An Aquatic Cleanup

Keeping area around Ashtead station clean

We are part of the Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath Village Action initiative. We aim to co-ordinate the efforts of local people in promoting awareness of the problem of litter; improving attitudes; and taking part in monthly organised litter picking, with the aim of keeping our villages pleasant and pretty. We know that many residents look after the roadsides and paths adjacent to their own homes and wish to encourage this. Some of our members carry chalk to mark dog fouling on pavements, to help people avoid stepping in it and to tell irresponsible dog owners that they should be clearing up after their pet. Litter picking can be very rewarding, and is an opportunity to get out and make new contacts in the village. Please get in touch if you can help in any way, however small. Please email us if there is any particular area in the village over which you have concerns about litter. In 2012 Nisa - Village Roots in Woodend Road gave us some funds and we have bought some hi-viz vests with 'Volunteer - Village Action Litter Busters' printed on them. We are grateful for their continuing support. South Glos Council support us with sacks, picker sticks and bag hoops. See Upcoming Events for dates and meeting points for monthly litter picks. Please see our gallery below for some pictures of our members, including two younger litter busters!

CUDS was formed primarily to litter pick around our town and its environs. We do so about 4 times a month for 2 hours each time and then have a cup of tea and the all-important biscuits. We also strip useless bits of turf off areas, dig over, plant bulbs and sow wildflower seeds which we maintain on 2 roundabouts and various other places. At present we have about 28 members. We are not a charity - we are funded by grants for which I apply and have back-up from Dervizes Town Council's Park and Open Spaces team when we can't shift all the stuff we have collected ourselves. When we started over 3 years ago, we were viewed with some suspicion - as in 'Are you all doing Community Payback?' and so forth - interesting to think that a great group of oldies would be doing that! Now, in our bright blue hivis vests emblazed with CUDS on the back, nearly everybody knows who we are - and if they don't, they must have been asleep. We work with local groups - Beavers, the Canoe Club, The Lions at their Fair and recently with The Fulltone Orchestra at their free event in the Market Place. We are also planning our reward - apart from cake, which we have before our summer and Christmas breaks. This time we are going on a day out to visit various gardens in Somerset - it's great to be sociable and many have made firm friends within our group.

Rubbish disposal and fly tipping is becoming an increasing problem nationally compounded by reduced services across the counties. Many communities are taking it upon themselves to get out and tidy up their local areas by grabbing a bag and a litter picker and spending an hour or so in their immediate local area picking up discarded rubbish. If you are interested in meeting up once a month then please come along on the third Saturday, and together we can make a difference to rubbish and fly tipping in our area. All equipment is provided, including ‘kids kits’ so that children can participate safely too. We meet at 10am at the Gamston Village Hall and are out for a maximum of 2 hours. The monthly litter picking is in Gamston but the equipment is available for all residents of the villages of Adbolton, Bassingfield, Gamston and Holme Pierrepont to use.

We are a faith-based charity group committed and dedicated to the Area we operate and in giving back to the Community, we created this group to pick Litters off the streets on every 3rd Saturday of every month by 11.00am. The Aim is to make our environment clean and to make Sunderland the cleanest city in the whole Northeast of England.

To keep Blackfell tidty and litter free, local councillors are asking for volunteers to help us to keep Blackfell litter free. If you are proud of where you live, then please join like minded people who care about their Community

Do join me

Mostly keeping Parsons Lane (Wilmington) tidy but other local areas too if time permits.

We are a neighbourhood co-operative, here to make the area greener and cleaner and promote local responses to the climate emergency.

We are a friendly group of volunteers who do Litter picking and gardening in our communty.