On the 13th March we had another successful litter pick session, where we teamed up with the Canal and River Trust, Friends of the Colne Valley Park, Friends of the Slough Arm, Hillingdon Litter Pickers, and ACT Foundation UK. The effort and spirit was fantastic, and a great deal of litter was cleared. Coming together as a team allowed us to make a much greater impact, which we’re sure will be greatly appreciated by walkers and cyclists who regularly use the Slough Arm.
We can’t take the credit for all the bags of rubbish, as local residents had been busy over the previous weekend cleaning up the Slough Arm as well, so there was already a pile of bags of litter waiting to be removed. If you know who they are, we would love to hear from them! We were also pleased that the Canal and River Trust could take all the rubbish away in their boat, which was packed full, not just with bags of litter, but a mattress, trolleys, all manner of things. Another great effort from all the volunteers!
There is still plenty to be done, but we’ve made a significant difference. Please see below the fantastic feedback from our amazing volunteers:
Paul Graham, Friends of the Colne Valley and local resident:
“Many thanks to everybody who took part. It was great to be working with so many people from different groups, all with the same aim – to improve this attractive and interesting part of the Colne Valley with three rivers and two canals. For visitors coming from London via the Grand Union Canal it is an important entrance to the Colne Valley in a particularly vulnerable part of it. Richard Mabey lived close by over 50 years ago and wrote about the area sensitively in his book The Unofficial Countryside”.
Nic Wilsher, Hillingdon Litter Pickers and local resident:
“The Slough Arm in Cowley makes you forget where you are. It feels rural and remote, sunsets can be stunning and there is a rich diversity of wildlife along with places nearby such as Little Britain Lake. You could be anywhere, but this is an area within the boundary of Greater London close to a heavily urbanised area. Unfortunately this means that it is also a haven for anti-social behaviour and littering. Hopefully our team effort will make it harder to litter, now the area is clean and make the canal a better place for nature, recreation and boaters”.
Act Foundation UK
“It was a wonderful morning, spending time with like-minded people. It was pleasing to see the difference made with conjoint efforts. This collaborative effort not only enhances the experience for walkers and cyclists but also contributes to a healthier environment”.
The Slough Arm
The Slough Arm is an important link in the Colne Valley Regional Park and one of the key access points to the countryside, with gems like Little Britain Lake. One of the main challenges in the Colne Valley is that the entrances to these places are often unattractive due to litter, which makes it unpleasant and discouraging for people to enjoy a walk in the countryside. Part of the Landscape Recovery Team’s ambition is to enhance and improve these neglected entrances, and we are delighted with the achievements made that day.
If you are interested in joining us on our next litter pick, please email us at [email protected].
