Local residents, volunteers, schools, charities and other organisations will be out in force on Tuesday 27th March, clearing up the streets and green spaces of Eastwood Village in Rotherham, led by Clifton Learning Partnership with support from the new Big Lottery-funded Natural Neighbours project.
The Eastwood Clean-up is inspired by the Great British Spring Clean – a national campaign to bring communities together to clean up their neighbourhoods – and will take place from 1.30-3.30pm at Eldon Road Recreation Ground and Eastwood Village. Volunteers will be carrying out litter picking, removal of fly-tipping, clearing overgrowth in the park, sweeping pavements and paths, and clearing park entrances, with ‘Street Champions’ encouraging everyone to get involved.
The event builds on previous efforts by the community and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to clean up the area, but signifies a stepping up of positive action by local residents of all ages, proud of their local area.
It also kick-starts big efforts to improve the Eldon Road Recreation Grounds, supported by the new five-year Natural Neighbours project, which will help communities in Rotherham celebrate and take ownership of the green spaces on their doorstep, through engagement activities such as volunteer work days, nature walks and environmental play activities for families, alongside park improvements.
Natural Neighbours is supported by the National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund and coordinated by Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, in partnership with other local organisations and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
Along with the Natural Neighbours team, lending residents a hand in the clean-up activities will be local organisations such as Clifton Learning Partnership, who have been working with Eastwood Village residents for the last few years, along with Eastwood Village Primary School, who will be picking up litter around the school’s perimeter. A dedicated cohort of volunteers from the Home Group, Rotherham in Root and the council’s Love Where You Live campaign will also lend a hand, while volunteers from the Don Catchment Rivers Trust will be cleaning up the water’s edge, which backs onto the River Don.
The day will also be supported by Remedi, the council’s youth reparation service, who have already been working to improve the park itself as part of Natural Neighbours. A number of council services will also be supporting on the day by coordinating waste removal and handing out information about the council’s various waste collection schemes.
Helen Littlewood, Director at Clifton Learning Partnership, said:
“By being consistently warm, friendly and welcoming we are building trust and this is leading to more people getting involved in their community.”
Owen Hodgkinson, Natural Neighbours Project Officer at Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, said:
“It’s fantastic to see local Eastwood residents taking such pride in their community. Through Natural Neighbours we hope to encourage as many people as possible to take ownership of their green spaces and ultimately establish a lasting legacy of community care for local green space. All are welcome!”
For more information on Natural Neighbours click here