Keep Hecky Tidy

We are a revitalised 'clean-up' group of some 20 years' standing which incorporated collaboration with other agencies such as the Environment Agency, TCV, Highways and Groundwork as well as improving communication with our LA, local farmers and schools. Our aims broadened to include two new elements, namely education on litter and LA backed health walks. The latter has enabled people to enjoy our rural pathways, which are now regularly litter-picked, and at the same time build up their stamina in walking for health. In 2011, through fundraising, we were able to purchase two community notice boards to further publicise local events and amenities and our aims. We were very grateful to Groundwork Merseyside for installing them. It continues to be very satisfying to see people reading the notices displayed there and to see some new helpers on our litter-picks and new walkers on our health walks as a result. Both noticeboards were renovated this year, 2018 with help from a grant from Cronton Parish Council, for which we thank them. Our LA, Knowsley MBC, has always been supportive but In recent years, due to funding cuts to LAs we have had reduced contact with them, although they continue to help us by removing the bags of litter we collect on our biannual litter picks. We forged links with one of our neighbouring LAs, Halton, with a view to liaising on littering of our border areas. They provided us with litter-pickers and bags. This has made a big difference to our effectiveness. Updated 24.3.2018

Our groups main aim is to improve the local environment so that it looks cleaner and more presentable as the litter in the area is spoiling the look of where we live and work. We would like to bring together the working community of the business park in order to clean things up a bit by keeping the area litter free. We feel that this would be a great opportunity to meet some of our neighbours, get some gentle exercise and achieve something really valuable at the same time.

A community group set up to keep the Templeton Drive estate tidy.

Local community litter picking group

We want to get beyond litter picking (though we still do it) and we seek to educate the younger generation through running humorous photographic contests on an anti-litter theme, school visits, and publicity on the issue generally This year we are running Litter Goes Literary, a photographic contest for young people (free entry) who must submit a humourly captioned photo from a litter pick, along with an ecologised version of one verse of a favourite song.

We are a village parish council with an aim to keep our locality clear of litter with occasional group litter picks supplemented by regular picks by volunteers who wish to 'adopt' a local patch to keep clear.

I started litter picking as I was annoyed by the litter in the hedges outside Roys supermarket and it snowballed from there. I regularly litter pick around the village and also other areas whilst out and about. I am doing this for the wildlife and the environment.

I am retired and collect litter as an individual. I started litter picking when I was living in Small Heath and collected more than 1,750 bags over a three year period. I have now moved to Coseley, which is far less blighted by litter, but it is still about. I collect litter two or three times a week around Upper Ettingshall Road, Ivy House Lane, Shaw Road and roads and alleys leading from that area.

It cleans up Riddlesdown Common, one of the City of London's Open Spaces and many of the surrounding roads in the neibourhood.

The group now has over 100 members. It organises monthly litter picks, and members also litter pick in their own local areas.

An important part of our work is with young people. We have met with Junior schools, Brownies and Cubs, and talked about the reduction of litter and recycling.

We liaise with other environmental groups in the area, particularly those with similar aims to ours and we work closely with the local Borough Council.

We have a website:- www.sandbach-cleanteam.co.uk