A GIRVAN woman has received an award for her litter picking work.

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has given Rosemarie Speedie a Clean Up Scotland Hero award for her litter picking efforts in her local area.

Alongside Zanne Domoney-Lyttle and Rhona Anderson at GoGirvan, Rosemarie set up a litter picking library of equipment which allows people to borrow equipment then litter pick at an area of their choice when it suits them. 

Rosemarie, a member of TagGirvan, also litter picks in the countryside, parks, beaches and car parks and encourages groups and schools to help.

The whole of Sacred Heart Primary in Girvan came out and helped with a beach clean as did a group from Ayr College.

Alistair Wallace, who nominated Rosemarie, said: “Rosie has been a litter picker in Girvan for many years. She goes out on her own two or three times a week all over the town making the streets, parks, laybys and the harbour look so much better.

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“Recently she set up a ‘litter tools’ collection service in the local tourist office which lets volunteers pick up bags and pickers if they and their squad wish to do a stint at a tidy up.

“Rosie has spent hours and hours and hours quietly making her community look better and not once did she expect an award. Her focus was only on making her town nicer."

Heather Mclaughlin, Campaigns Coordinator at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I am incredibly pleased to award Rosemarie with our Clean Up Scotland Hero award. She is a great role model for everyone and really deserves this recognition.

“We are currently facing a Litter Emergency in Scotland so it is more important than ever that we look after our beautiful country and keep it clean and tidy.

“Our Spring Clean begins this month and we hope thousands of people from across Scotland will take a leaf out of Rosemarie’s book and help us to keep Scotland beautiful by carrying out a litter pick in their local area.”