To mark Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean, which ran from 21st March to 6th April this year, LAGER Can decided to try to litter pick all 146 parks in the London Borough of Ealing. Our project was featured in the March edition of Around Ealing, which generated a lot of interest from members of the public who pledged their support.
More than 300 people took part. Our best-attended event was organised by a LAGER Can member who works at Derwentwater Primary School, who brought together 70 children and adults to clean Acton Park.
We not only picked up litter, but removed rubbish from the bushes, cleared flytips, drinkers’ dens and abandoned camps, and in many cases cleaned the adjacent roads.
I’m delighted to report that we achieved our goal. We donated 1,530 volunteer-hours (equivalent to 16.6 people each working 38 hour weeks across the project period) and collected 2,797 bags’ worth of litter and large, unbaggable items.
This undoubtedly created extra work for some of our council partners, and we would to thank Park Ranger Jamie Passmore, GEL Grounds Maintenance Supervisor John Carpenter in particular, for their patient support.
Cathy Swift
Chair, LAGER Can
