Help Clean Up Local Parks and Open Spaces

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Tours of recycling centre also part of council's campaign

Hammersmith and Fulham Council is inviting local volunteers to join its Big Clean Up campaign, alongside council staff, workers from local charity Groundwork, and the council’s contractors Serco and Quadron.

The first organised clean up is taking place in Ravenscourt Park on Wednesday May 22, from 11am-1pm, with a litter pick and tidy up in the popular Hammersmith park.

The meeting point for volunteers is at the arches entrance to the park, by the cafe on Ravenscourt Park Avenue, at 11am.

The council is also linking up with Thames21 for their riverside clean up on Saturday June 8 near Hammersmith Bridge, from 9.30am until 12noon. The foreshore will be cleared of litter and debris under and around the bridge, and help improve the area for people and the local wildlife.

Thames21 will provide safety boots for adults, gloves and socks, but children will need to bring their own Wellington boots. Children under 16 need to be supervised by parents. The council will also be holding a Big Clean Up on the river path near the bridge, at the same time.

Volunteers are asked to meet at Queen Caroline’s Dock, next to Hammersmith Bridge, at 9:30am. For more information and to confirm that you are attending, please visit Thames 21’s website – or contact organiser Judith Ressler on 07500 842283 or email judith.ressler@thames21.org.uk.

In Shepherd's Bush the Friends of Wormholt Park are holding a Big Clean Up in the park on June 2 from 10am -12noon. As well as doing a litter pick, they will be promoting the responsible disposal of litter and dog mess in the park. The Big Clean Up will be followed by a family picnic complete with relaxing jazz guitar music, as a treat for the volunteers.

There is also an event in Old Oak on June 7, 10.30am - 3pm, called Clean Up Silver Birch Sidings. The litter pick and tidy-up event is being held in conjunction with Groundwork, Crossrail and its contractors, BFK, H&F Council and the Canal & River Trust.

Volunteers are asked to register their interest in advance by emailing netty.ribeaux@groundwork.org.uk. They will meet at 10.30am by Silver Birch Sidings, on the tow path on the south side of the Grand Union Canal. Find out more details and directions to the spot on the Scrubs Online website.

Cllr Greg Smith, deputy leader and cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “We have had a great response so far from residents, who are being generous with their time and are very keen to get involved in the various Big Clean Up activities.

“These kinds of events really help boost the community. The Big Clean Up is a chance for people to meet their neighbours and like-minded people, while helping to improve their local area, making it nicer for everyone.

“As well as getting involved in events organised by the council and other groups, it would be fantastic if local residents wanted to organise their own events. We would be more than happy to supply them with necessary equipment, like litter pickers, gloves and sacks, and organise for the sacks to be taken away.”

Residents are also invited to attend free tours to the recycling centre in Smuggler’s Way to see what happens to the waste they throw away.

The tours on Wednesday June 19 and Thursday June 20 start at 10.30am and last an hour and a half. A free bus will be available on both days. The bus will leave Hammersmith Town Hall at 9.45am on Wednesday June 19 and from Kensington Town Hall on Thursday at 9.45am. The maximum number of people per tour is 10 so book quickly, by emailing recycling@lbhf.gov.uk.

The council is working with local businesses, groups, organisations and residents’ associations to organise other similar events across the borough. If you would like to organise an event or volunteer to take part in the Big Clean Up, or for more information, visit The Big Clean Up or email cleaner.greener@lbhf.gov.uk.

 

May 13, 2013