Now that we are starting to enjoy the lighter evenings and some milder weather, it is a good time to think about being active and enjoying the benefits of being outside.

Cheshire East Council and Ansa Environmental Services – the council's wholly-owned waste and recycling service provider - are linking up with Everybody Health and Leisure on the 'Pick-Fit' scheme to help combat the rise in litter, as well as encouraging people to get outdoors in a bid to improve their mental health and overall wellbeing.

The council's litter-picking initiative Pick-Fit, which launched in October last year, encourages people to get active, spend time outdoors and helps to reduce litter in local neighbourhoods.

Litter-picking is an effective way to get outdoors and stay active – regular walks can help fitness, improve mental health and reduce the chances of heart disease.

In addition to showing pride in the area you live in, litter-picking is a great way to support and protect the environment and local wildlife.

Pick-Fit offers residents the opportunity to get fit while earning a complimentary one-day pass to an Everybody Health and Leisure centre just for completing a litter-pick.

Residents over the age of 18 and families who get involved with litter-picking in their local area will be issued a complimentary one-day pass to use the gym or access the pool facilities at Everybody's local leisure centres. Any residents and families carrying out multiple litter picks will be entered into a prize draw to win a membership for two months with Everybody Health and Leisure.

Tom Shuttleworth, Cheshire East Council's director of environment and neighbourhood services, said: "We have had a fantastic response and more than 140 families and individuals have signed up to Pick-Fit already. We know there are many more public-spirited residents and community groups, who take a lot of pride in their neighbourhoods and want to help keep them clean and tidy. I would encourage them to get involved too.

"We have a dedicated crew of street cleaners who help keep the environment clean, but unfortunately some people are still dropping litter. It is important to us that our litter management teams have a significant presence, not only with street cleaning, but also in our parks and green spaces.

"Spring is a great time of year to get outdoors and appreciate the real benefits to our health and wellbeing. The Pick-Fit initiative offers the best of both worlds combining physical activity with the sense of achievement that comes from looking after your local environment."

Thomas Barton, Everybody Health and Leisure's chief executive, said: "We are delighted to be working with Cheshire East Council and Ansa Environmental Services on this initiative, encouraging the community to get active outdoors whilst keeping their local area clean and tidy.

"We were keen to support this by providing the local community with a free pass as a thank you for getting involved and helping them to remain active in our facilities. We really look forward to welcoming you into our centres and good luck to all those who are entered into the prize draw!"

Anyone signing up for Pick-Fit will receive a litter picker, litter bags, hi-vis vest, protective gloves and a guidebook. Once complete, pickers can send a photo to the Pick-Fit team detailing the location of the collected waste and will then receive an Everybody leisure centre voucher in return.

To find out more about Pick-Fit and sign-up for your litter-picking pack, go to Cheshire East Council's website here

Everybody leisure centres are located across Cheshire