Tidy Our Town
2026Tidy Our Town was launched by the Northampton Chronicle & Echo in collaboration with the Northants Litter Wombles in February 2024, and remains an ongoing campaign focused on tackling littering and fly-tipping across Northamptonshire. Through regular reporting, the campaign raises awareness of the scale of the problem while also spotlighting the positive work of volunteers taking action locally, and it was shortlisted for Campaign of the Year at the Midlands Media Awards 2025.
The campaign has combined community storytelling with constructive scrutiny of decision-makers. Mark Watson, chair of the Northants Litter Wombles, has credited the coverage with boosting volunteer numbers and described the newspaper as “a vital ally” in tackling littering and fly-tipping.
The campaign wins, including the installation of Northamptonshire’s first Deposit Return Scheme machine at the University of Northampton, a shift from open-top recycling boxes to clear bags in some areas and a “Pride in Place” clean-up ahead of Women’s Rugby World Cup fixtures at Franklin’s Gardens, delivered with local partners and volunteers.
“It's impossible to overstate how important and effective the Tidy Our Town campaign has been… Our litter picking volunteers find it uplifting and motivating to know that the Chronicle & Echo is a vital ally in tackling the scourge of littering and fly tipping. Northants Litter Wombles would be very noticeably less effective without this support.”
Mark Watson, chair of the Northants Litter Wombles