This Saturday will see our local litter picking teams head out for their next quarterly tidy up – coinciding this time with the nationwide Great British Spring Clean. Scheme founder, Cedric Foster, shares how you can get involved.
Histon & Impington Litter Pickers (HILP) was founded by Cedric Foster around eleven years ago and now has over 120 regular volunteers across the community of Histon & Impington. Every few months, these volunteers kindly give up their time to tackle the ever increasing menace of unwanted litter. This coming weekend sees the next of their regular quarterly Big Tidy Ups, falling this time within the Great British Spring Clean – a nationwide effort taking place between 28 May and 13 June targeting villages and towns right across the UK. Cedric takes up the story:
“On Saturday 5th June, we will be holding our next quarterly Big Tidy Up, and I will be on hand in the Village car park (located behind Corals Bookmakers off Histon High Street) from 9.00 am to give out equipment and bags but, just as importantly, simply to say ‘hello’. Those who can’t make the Saturday, may litter pick on Sunday 6th.
“We will be combining our efforts to coincide with The Great British Spring Clean, where similar groups will be taking part throughout the UK”.
The 100+ team of HILP volunteers already cover most areas across our village but there are always additional areas needing the help of willing volunteers. Cedric explains:
“One such area is the wooded area alongside Butt Lane, just before the Recycling Centre on the right, which is planned to be tackled on the morning of Sunday 6th. I am looking for some volunteers to join in to litter pick this area. Parking of cars and bikes will be available in the nearby Evolution Business Park car park and if you would like to join this team please get in touch with me for more details.
“There are undoubtedly also areas in the village that could just simply do with a bit of extra tender loving care. If you know of somewhere in need, or would like to join a team to clean things such as bench seats, the duck viewing platform etc., please do let me know.
“Recently we have recruited new volunteers for the bus shelters/noticeboard on School Hill and Cottenham Road. Additionally, Daniel Moore, of D G Moore Cleaning Services, who regularly cleans our local street signs free of charge, has volunteered to steam clean the round seat on the island opposite St Andrew’s Centre and clear all the vegetation beneath. He also hopes to clean all the seats on The Green and the viewing platform on The Brook”.
If you would like to offer your help to the HILP team, or have suggestions of areas needing attention, please get in touch with Cedric at cedric.jl.foster1944@btinternet.com. Alternatively, you can join the HILP dedicated Facebook page, here.