Helping Harrogate: Why were Nidd Valley Road Runners 'plogging' and what does it involve

A community-minded Harrogate running club has come up with a new way of keeping the town tidy - plogging.
Plogging - Nidd Valley Road Runners first had the idea of combining running with picking up litter last year.Plogging - Nidd Valley Road Runners first had the idea of combining running with picking up litter last year.
Plogging - Nidd Valley Road Runners first had the idea of combining running with picking up litter last year.

A cross between picking up litter and jogging, Nidd Valley Road Runners first had the idea of combining running with picking up litter last year but the Covid pandemic put a stop to it.

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The club's Ladies Captain Sarah Staiano said: "Plogging is a great way for the club to give something back to our local area and help keep our town clean and tidy for everyone.

Plogging away - Nidd Valley Road Runners members were out in their club vests running to four different locations in Harrogate to clear litter.Plogging away - Nidd Valley Road Runners members were out in their club vests running to four different locations in Harrogate to clear litter.
Plogging away - Nidd Valley Road Runners members were out in their club vests running to four different locations in Harrogate to clear litter.

"Local residents seemed pleased to see the teams from Nidd Valley out in force with positive comments made and lots of thank yous."

Nidd Valley Road Runners members were out in their club vests this week running to four different locations in Harrogate to clear litter.

In just one night, the publically-spirited runners collected more than 20 sacks of rubbish.

'Plogging' locations included:

Bilton playground.

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The Stray at Wetherby road near Harrogate District Hospital.

The back of Harrogate High School.

The back of Harrogate Hockey Club car park.

Ladies Captain Sarah Staiano said: "Our sacks looked pretty full after our efforts.

"We only did it once last year and then we couldn’t really because if lockdown.

"But we do want to keep doing it going forward this time."

Nidd Valley Road Runners' night of 'plogging' received support from Harrogate Borough Council who supplied gloves, litter pickers and bags and arranged collection of the rubbish.

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Harrogate firm Bettys also made a kind contribution to enable purchase of sanitizer and other equipment.

After the latest plogging event, one runner tweeted:

"I run with @NVRunners and last night we went #plogging round the streets of #Harrogate. We collected so much rubbish but had great fun and many people came out to say thank you. "Joining a running club was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made #running #runningclub #community"

For more information on Nidd Valley Road Runners, visit www.http://niddvalleyroadrunners.co.uk/

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