Milton Keynes schoolgirl clears a dozen bags of rubbish from Blue Lagoon

Charlie Upton, from the Lakes Estate, contacted the Citizen after her niece, Kimi, spent two nights last week cleaning up rubbish left behind at the Blue Lagoon.

Twelve-year-old Kimi and her mum, Samantha, decided to do a litter pick in the area after they noticed a lot of rubbish was being left behind.

Charlie said: "They have been going there regularly during lockdown on their daily exercise.

"When the weather got nicer, and more people were going further and having days out at the Blue Lagoon, they noticed more and more rubbish left behind.

"My niece took some serious action and decided to clean up other peoples rubbish, they cleared away six bin bags worth of other peoples litter on Wednesday.

"I think it's great that Kimi wanted to do this, she is 12, and she deserves to get recognised for what she's done.

"I believe in a world that is so uncertain and selfish that this is something so positive."

Samantha Jones, Kimi's mum, said: "We noticed how bad it had gotten since the hotter weather.

"Lockdown has allowed nature to thrive and then people ruin it by not taking away their rubbish.

"We collected six black bags full on Wednesday and the same on Thursday.

"What is most horrible is that people are actually throwing the cans and glass and plastic bags into the lakes, there are swans, geese and ducks in there.

"My daughter loves the outdoors and wildlife and has really enjoyed walking here on her walks, at the start of lockdown we saw quite a few deer here as well, but now they seem to have gone as well.

"I think the area could do with more bins, so people can put their rubbish in them and not just leave it on the floor, but people should be taking their rubbish with them if they can't see any bins!"