Local residents, community groups and young people took part in a clean-up event across Ballyclare, Doagh and Lisburn on Saturday, April 11. The effort collected 106 bags of litter at the three locations.

Countryside Custodians, founded in 2019 by Katherine McAdam, reached a total of 20,400 bags of litter collected. The group has over 1,500 members and operates volunteer-led environmental projects in County Antrim.

The organisation has distributed more than 400 gifts to nursing home residents over the past two years via its annual Pass the Parcel campaign. It has also raised funds for Cancer Focus NI, Shine and Alzheimer’s Society Northern Ireland through events including a daffodil field on Hillhead Road in Ballyclare.

Live Here Love Here Manager Lynda Surgenor stated that the milestone shows the value of the Big Spring Clean campaign, now in its 16th year, which involves volunteers across Northern Ireland in litter reduction efforts.

Katherine McAdam, the group's founder, said the achievement reflects volunteer dedication and community efforts to maintain local environments.

Countryside Custodians previously received Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Regional Champions Award from Live Here Love Here for sustainability and community work.