Sheffield grandad recruits young relatives to keep the city's parks clean

Mark Schreder, 58, of Norton Lees, started picking up the rubbish in Sheffield’s public parks 20 years ago, when he was shocked by how much litter there was when he was walking his dog.

The probation officer, who lives near Graves Park now goes on regular litter picks multiple times a week and has recruited his three grandchildren, Cara, 10, Frankie, seven and Chester, five to help him keep the popular green space clean.

Mark has fractured three ribs and shattered his shoulder in three places after he fell over on two separate occasions while trying to clear litter from hard to reach places in the park.

The 58-year-old’s grandchildren have started helping him tidy up Graves Park by picking up litter since June.

"My wife and my own children are worried I'm going to fall over again so now I've got the young kids with me”, Mark said.

"I've always been interested in the local environment because I can do something about that.

"A lot of people moan about the litter but instead of moaning, I see it as some type of community service and just get on with it.

"I'm a probation officer so I see it as a service for the community but also for the environment, I’m just trying to maintain it and make a contribution to it."

The granddad who has found drug paraphernalia, syringes, empty nitrous oxide canisters and empty bottles while tidying up the park over the years, explained how shocked the children have been by the volume of litter.

Mark added: "They make comments about how rubbish there is because I don't think they realise how much litter is here until we started picking it.

"I used to be quite angry about how ignorant people are to the issue with this throwaway lifestyle, but now I just think if you are going to throw it away then I'll just pick it up.

"Rather than getting angry, you've got to do something about it, it's about using that anger for the benefit of the community.”

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