I was proud to be joined by a small but incredibly dedicated group of volunteers as we rolled up our sleeves, pulled on our wellies, and got stuck into cleaning up the brook that runs through Leighton Brook Park.
This isn’t glamorous work. It’s muddy, smelly, and physically demanding. But it’s work that matters – and the effort we put in made a real and visible difference to one of our local green spaces.
What We Found
We managed to remove a surprising – and frankly quite shocking – range of waste from the brook. Among the items pulled out were:
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A shopping trolley
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Two bikes
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A garden chair
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A small sofa
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A tyre
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Various bits of plastic, metal, and household rubbish
It’s disheartening to see this kind of waste dumped in a natural area. Our brooks, parks, and green corridors should be places where families can walk, wildlife can thrive, and communities can relax and enjoy nature. Dumping waste in these places is not only harmful to the environment, but it also undermines the value of these important communal spaces.
Despite the less-than-pleasant conditions, the team brought energy, humour, and determination to the task. I want to give a special thank you to Anna, Glyn, and Peter, who really went above and beyond on the day. Their hard work and commitment to improving the area was inspiring.
We were also supported by some fantastic partners. Thank you to Lindsay, Ingrid, and the Crewe Town Council Rangers, and Caroline from Cheshire East Council, who helped coordinate the safe and proper disposal of the waste we collected.
This kind of community action is about more than just clearing litter. It’s about taking pride in where we live, looking after the environment, and showing that we care. It sends a message that we won’t turn a blind eye to neglect or misuse of our public spaces.
It also reminds us how important it is to work together. None of us could have done this alone – it was the shared effort that made it possible.
There’s still work to do. We’ll be keeping an eye on the brook and looking into more regular clean-ups and preventative measures. I’ll continue to work with Cheshire East and other partners to promote responsible waste management, including better public awareness of local facilities to prevent future dumping.
If you’re interested in getting involved in future community clean-ups, I’d love to hear from you. The more people who pitch in, the more we can achieve – and the better our shared spaces will be for everyone.
Thank you once again to everyone who took part and supported the clean-up. It was hard work, but it was worth it. Leighton Brook looks better already, and it’s a reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together with a shared purpose.
One regret – we didn’t manage to get a team photo! After wading through water and mud, we were all very keen to head home and get cleaned off. But the effort, smiles, and teamwork are something I’ll remember even without a picture.
Let’s keep looking after our green spaces – and each other.
