Volunteers collected a small mountain of rubbish during the event

A small army of volunteers collected a mountain of litter in a clean-up event in England’s oldest national park.

An old gramophone horn stuck in a muddy ditch was the most unusual piece of rubbish retrieved during the fifth annual Peak District Pick and Play.

More mundane items cleared from the blitz on Hathersage Moor, Burbage, Millstone and the Hathersage to Sheffield road were stacks of plastic bottles and snack wrappers.

The event, organised by Peak Mountaineering and the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers combined cleaning up the national park with a range of outdoor activities which this year included climbing, abseiling, weaselling, bushcraft, a ranger guided nature walk and a navigation workshop.

Young and not-so-young joined the clean-up army

Paul Lewis of Peak Mountaineering said 82 people took part on the day. “Lots of families attended the event but there were also plenty of singles, couples and groups of friends in attendance too,” he said. “There was also a broader range of ages than ever before with Doug being the oldest participant at 86 and the youngest was four-month-old Clara.

“The participants were lucky to enjoy a blue-sky early summer weather day and alongside the litter collection, participants climbed and abseiled at Lawrencefield, weaselled at Higgar Tor, learnt some bushcraft skills, navigated up and around Owler Tor and enjoyed a guided nature walk to Padley Gorge.”

The free event relied on a team of outdoor instructors who provided their services and skills without charge.

Outdoor brands Rab and Nikwax supported the clean-up, and raffle prizes were donated by Lifestraw and Hydroflask. Sheffield-based Revive Medicare who provided healthy snack food.

Organisers have already finalised the date of next year’s event, which will take place on Sunday 14 May.