Volunteers are being asked to pull on a pair of gloves to help clean up Blenheim, Lidsdale, Canobolas and Roseberg State forests.

A Clean Up Australia Day event will be held in these forests on Sunday, March 2 from 9am.

Forestry Corporation Community Programs Coordinator Nikki Bennetts said this community run event would target garbage that has been illegally dumped along forest fire trails and roads.

“The illegal dumping of rubbish remains a huge problem particularly in state forests that are close to towns and cities,” Ms Bennetts said.

“Unfortunately, not all visitors leave the forest how they found it and, disappointingly, a small number of people seem to see State forests as dumping grounds.

“Across NSW hundreds of tonnes of household and construction rubbish, scrap metal and dumped vehicles are removed from state forests each year at considerable cost to the community.

“We thank the custodians of the forests the regular forest users, the bushwalkers, the local mountain bike clubs, the horse riders etc for their assistance and a special thank you to Alex Sehring for organising the events in these forests.

“State forests are places for the whole community to enjoy nature and the great outdoors, but we come across everything from mattresses, couches and scrap metal to burnt-out cars in local forests.

“So this Clean Up Australia Day we’d like to get as many hands on deck as we can to help us clean up our State forests.Whether you can spare an hour or a full day, we’d love to have your help.”

When: Sunday, March 2 from 9am
Where:

1. Lidsdale State Forest – meet at the intersection of Link Rd and Great Western Highway.
2. Blenheim State Forest – meet at the intersection of Blenheim Forest Rd and Link 1 Rd.
3. Canobolas State Forest – meet at the intersection of Rosebank Rd and Mires Rd.
4. Roseberg State Forest – meet at the intersection of Tea-Tree Rd and Stockyard Rd.

A briefing will be held and volunteers will receive equipment and maps.

Bring: Hat, sunscreen and lace-up boots. All other equipment will be provided on the day.

More information: Register online www.cleanup.org.au/cleanupaustraliaday

For more information about Forestry Corporation, visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au