Envirotrek volunteers enjoy rockclimbing after the clean-up

A wheelbarrow, a portable barbecue and a light switch were among discarded items collected in a clean-up by volunteers in a national park.

The rubbish was among 15 bags’ worth of litter and other waste picked up as part of the Envirotrek event in the Peak District.

Almost 50 volunteers took part in the Respect the Mountains clean-up, sponsored by outdoor brand KEEN. The annual Europe-wide project was being held in the UK for the first time around Bamford.

The finder of the most unusual piece of rubbish was rewarded with a pair of KEEN footwear in recognition of their efforts.

A spokesperson for the event said: “A simple hike and clean-up concept, Envirotrek gives people the opportunity to give something back to their environment while enjoying some playtime in the great outdoors and helps to care for key mountain areas to ensure these special destinations can be enjoyed by future generations.”

The litter-pick was followed by lunch and then various outdoor activities in the surrounding area, with participants choosing to bike, climb or walk on the local hills and moors, with a further group heading off to explore local caves with Hitch ‘n’ Hike Guides.

This is the fourth year KEEN and Respect the Mountains have worked together to organise the European Envirotrek initiative, which for 2012 was expanded to include a total of seven events held across five different countries this summer.

Some of the clean-up volunteers

Amounting to more than 1,000 hands-on clean up hours by almost 500 volunteers, this summer’s series resulted in 1,750kg of waste being collected, including scrap metals, car tyres and used oil barrels.

Further information on the 2013 Envirotrek series will be launched in the coming weeks.