Cardiff Rugby are thrilled to launch a new partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, which will see the iconic Arms Park become a Caru Cymru Litter Picking Hub.
As part of our new sustainability strategy, ‘Forward Cardiff: From Pitch to Planet’, the club’s focus on climate, nature and people has been heightened.
And just days after the academy tackled fly-tipping on Pen y Fan, office and operational staff donned their high-vis jackets with litter pickers and bags to clean up the city centre’s streets and parks.
Any individual, business of community group will soon be able to do their part by signing up and collecting all required equipment from the Arms Park to stay safe while making a difference.
Help make Cardiff cleaner, greener and safer
Gareth Davies, Keep Wales Tidy Project Officer for Cardiff said: “We are partnering with Cardiff Rugby to launch a new Litter Picking Hub at the Arms Park, which is absolutely amazing. Volunteers will be able to go there, pick up the equipment and help make a difference to our communities.
“Cardiff is a great club with a real community feel, who share the same values as Keep Wales Tidy, and can help us build awareness with their profile and ability to inspire people to do more as role models.
“It’s also great timing with the Big Cardiff Tidy, which runs from September 18 to October 4, where we are encouraging everyone across the city to get involved in litter picking.
“This is all about making Cardiff a cleaner, greener, safer city and the club will be helping us through this, not only by taking part but by getting the message out there.”
Wales faces a litter emergency
Wales is currently facing a litter emergency with a recent estimate of 16,422,787 items of litter polluting our nation.
The existence of litter damages our environment and threatens our wildlife. It also impacts our wellbeing, health and perceptions of safety.
Cardiff achieved an overall cleanliness indicator score of 64.7 according to Keep Wales Tidy surveys, with 83.3% of its streets meeting an acceptable level of cleanliness. However, inner-city wards face heavy litter and fly-tipping challenges, driven largely by smoking-related and food and drink packaging waste
On Thursday, staff collected more than 25 bags of rubbish from the streets, public spaces and parks around the Arms Park.
Arms Park can be a hub for social good and team building
Jamie Muir, Cardiff Rugby managing director, said: “We’re delighted to make Cardiff Arms Park an official Keep Wales Tidy Liter Picking Hub and would love to see local businesses, community groups and individuals get involved.
“The Arms Park can become the starting and finishing point, collect your equipment, grab a coffee before heading out and return afterwards to drop everything off and enjoy a well-earned drink together.
“We had around 30 staff take part in our first litter pick and it was genuinely great fun. It got us away from our desks, sparked different conversations and helped colleagues connect in a new environment.
“There are clear benefits for our city and environment, but also for teamwork, wellbeing and bringing people together. That is exactly what Forward Cardiff is about: using our influence to make a positive difference for climate, nature and people.”
This is just the latest initiative taken on as the club attempts to make a lasting positive impact off the pitch, and the first in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy.
Forward Cardiff will be launched at the Arms Park on September 3, while further projects with the team at Keep Wales Tidy are being planned.
If you would like to help make a difference and take part in a litter pick from Cardiff Arms Park, please contact rhianon.griffiths@cardiffrugby.wales
For more information on the Big Cardiff Tidy click below!