Hedgehog Rescue

During one of our July litter picks, we were invovled in the rescue of a trapped hedgehog.

Michelle and Rebecca, who kindly volunteer their time as part of a community initiative by the Yorkshire Building Society, found a hedgehog that was ensnared in the cricket nets at Wilmslow Leisure Centre. They reported the problem to the Leisure Centre whose staff came out to cut the net and free the poor hedgehog.

One of the Leisure Centre customers kindly took the hedgehog to wildlife centre in Alderley Edge for recovery.

Well done everyone !

Litter Picking Summary 1st -> 4th June 2016

9 volunteers met at Summerfields on Wednesday 1st June. We focussed on the surrounding area including Colshaw Drive and the path down to the Polar Ford roundabout. We collected 17 bags of litter along with various wheel parts, bits of carpet and a toilet seat ! We would like to thank Jane from the Yorkshire Building Society and Leane from the Holiday Inn for coming along to help and for their ongoing support.

6 volunteers met at the Farmer’s Arms On Saturday 4th June. We covered the surrounding area including Chapel Lane, Moor Lane, Bedell’s Lane, South Oak Lane, Buckingham Road, Racecourse Road and Altrhincham Road. 8 bags were collected altogher and some cans were taken away for recycling.

Thanks and well done to all our volunteers.

Litter Picking Summary 4th -> 7th May 2016

A good turn out on Wednesday 4th May saw 9 volunteers meet at the Honey Bee. We focussed on Altdincham Road and collected 15 bags of litter altogether along with a few hub caps.

Only 3 volunteers could make the pick on Saturday 7th. We met at Bank Square. We focussed on the surrounding area and the town centre. Some of the roads we covered include Alderley Road, Knutsford Road and Parkway. We collected 4 bags of litter altogether/

One of our volunteers (Ade) trialled the concept of collecting alumninum drink cans, and a few plastic bottles, separately from the main litter bags. A small “Wilmslow Clean Team” bag was tied to the hoop and this worked really well. He collected 14 cans and 4 bottles. The weight of the cans is negligible and the cans especially can be squashed down into a very small size. These items have been put into his grey bin for re-cycling. The committee will look into providing bags for any other volunteers who would like to help with this recycling initiaitve.

19 bags were collected altogether during the May litter picks. We also know of at least 2 other bags that have been collected by our volunteers at other times.

Litter Picking Summary 6th->9th April 2016

9 volunteers, including some of our newer members, braved the hail on Wednesday 6th April and met at Lindow Common. We covered Lindow Common, Racecourse Road, parts of Kings Road and Gorsey Road, Priory Road, and Altrincham Road (both sides), from Gorsey Bank School to the Waters Corporation roundabout.

We met with the manager of the new Harvester Restaurant (and appreciated the offer of a free hot drink) to discuss their overflowing litter bins. The bins are owned by the Premier Inn but their manager thinks that rubbish is being deposited by the Harvester customers. Both managers will be addressing this problem. We decided to empty the two bins ourselves, rather than see the rubbish start to blow everywhere.

Altogether we collected 15 bags, a discarded pond liner, 4 sandbags, and various other detritus. This was all taken away by ANSA.

We also met a CEC Ranger, who told us how pleased he is with all of our help. He pointed out the area of the Common closed off by tape, immediately to the south of the car park, and indicated that, although litter is visible in amongst the thicket there, we should not go in. This is the site of one of the Victorian rubbish tips, next to the old Green Lake, and it was disturbed recently by one of the CEC landscape contractors by mistake. This will have to bulldozed in again.

In addition to our 2 scheduled picks this month, our volunteers have been out and about on their own. Sheila collected lots of old bottles and cans in the field by the railway arch near the A34 bypass. Viv collected 2 bags around Carnival Fields, Gorsey Road, Priory Road and Manor Road. Dog mess has become a real problem in Carnival Fields this year because some people have started to throw the bags into the bushes.

On Saturday 6th April, 6 volunteers turned out on a lovely spring morning. We would like to thank the King’s Arms for the use of their car park and the offer of a hot drink. We covered the surrounding area including Alderley Road, the by-pass roundabout, Knutsford Road, Bedells Lane, part of Chapel Lane, Albert Road, Victoria Road and Holly Road. We collected
14 bags, some hub caps and various various other bits and pieces. These were left next to 2 of the bins by the bus stops on Alderley Road and the council have been informed so that they can collect.

Finally, we have been told that the marshalls for the Wilmslow Half Marathon, plus members of Wilmslow Running Club, take litter clearance after the event has finished, very seriously and have tried to clean up along the whole of the course. This includes picking up litter which was already there before the Half Marathon took place. We would like to thank them for their efforts. Another of our volunteers, Jill, collected 2 bags in the area around Pownall Park on Sunday 3rd and again on Tuesday 5th. It was obvious that there had been a really good “post marathon” effort ahead of her.

So – 29 bags were collected at our formal litter picks this month plus at least 5 more from individuals.

Thanks for all your hard work everyone – apologies if your efforts haven’t been mentioned individually – but we do appreciate them.

Summary Of Spring Clean 2016

Our annual Spring Clean was organised slightly earlier than usual so that we could align some of the litter picks with the national “Clean For The Queen” campaign.

Sunday 28th Feb

On Sunday 28th of February, 2 of our volunteers collected 5 bags of rubbish from the passageway near the old Post Office. There is a lot more rubbish in the area but it is on private land and so outside of our jurisdiction.

Monday 29th Feb

14 volunteers met at Lindow Common On Monday 29th Feb. The focus was on Altrincham Road from Lindow Common to Waters. We collected about 20 bags of rubbish along with various bits of metal.

We were delighted that 6 of the volunteers were new – and we would be pleased to welcome them back at future litter picks.

We would like to thank the Yorkshire Building Society, and Gary in particular, for their support on this litter pick.

We would also like to thank the Co-op at the Texaco Petrol station for providing hot drinks to our volunteers.

Wednesday 2nd March

Despite the cold, windy weather (rain + hail & snow) eight hardy individuals met at Bank Square on Wednesday 2nd March. We focussed on the surrounding area and the Leisure Centre. 22 bags were collected altogether and left in Bank Square and at the Leisure Centre for the council to collect.

It was good to see 2 new volunteers.

We would like to thank the Yorkshire Building Society, and Jane in particular, for their support on this litter pick.

Many thanks to Delta Watch from the Wilmslow Fire Brigade who also came along to support us. See the wilmslow.co.uk article about firefighters helping clean for the queen or Wilmslow Guardian Firefighters Article articles for more details.

We would also like to thank the Slug and Lettuce on Water Lane for offering to provide hot drinks to our volunteers.

On Wednesday evening a large group of voluneers from Lindow Explorers collected several several bags of rubbish in the Spring Street Car Park and the surrounding area. A fantastic effort – well done.

Friday 4th March

Heavy snow caused the cancellation of our planned litter pick in Lacey Green on Friday 4th March.

Saturday 5th March

Despite the weather, our litter pick on Saturday 5th March went ahead. 8 intrepid volunteers turned out along with another welcome appearance from the firefighters.

Thanks to Dean Row Community Centre, and Derek in particular, for allowing us to use their facilities for our make hot drinks and biscuits. We collected 20 bags plus a bicycle wheel and part of a sweeping brush.

We are going to be talking to the Riversie Group to find out if we can get any more support for the Colshaw Farm estate (e.g. local resident’s groups) because the amount of rubbish is quite daunting.

Sunday 6th March

The final litter pick was on Sunday 6th March. 7 volunteers turned out on a nice sunny afternoon and collected 12 bags of rubbish. We covered the Sainsbury’s / Hoopers car parks, the raised flower beds near BP, the shop fronts on Alderley Road and Gorsey Road.

Thanks to Costa Coffee for offering to provide drinks to our volunteers. We didn’t take up the offer this time as it was Mother’s Day.

Summary

The weather tried its best to disrupt us – but it was still a very successful week. We collected about 85 bags of rubbish during the Spring Clean week. As well as the regular volunteer base we also had help and support from some newbies, some local comminity groups and some local businesses (either helping pick litter or profiding refreshments). We also did our bit for the national “Clean For The Queen” campaign. Well done everyone and thanks for your hard work.

Litter Picking Update – 13th February 2016

Several of our volunteers do stirling work themselves inbetween our 2 formal monthly litter picks. A great example this month was a tremendous haul of litter and rubbish collected by Ann in the area between the Honey Bee and Morley Green nursery. This extra effort was to tidy up the part of Altrincham Road that the team couldnt finish on the Saturday litter pick. She also collected a bag on Knutsford Road. All the rubbish was taken to Sainsbury’s car park and the coucil were notified for collection.

A brilliant effort – well done.

Litter Picking Summary 3rd->6th February 2016

A good turnout of 7 volunteers met at the Parish Hall on Wednesday 3rd February.

We covered the Parish Hall car park, the back of the Parish Hall, the children’s play area, par of The Carrs, Cliff Road, the steps from Cliff Road up to Bollin Hill, Chancel Road, River Street, Old Road, part of Manchester Road (including the roundabout by the King William), and Mill Street.

There was a lot of rubbish by the trees leading towards the river (behind the tennis courts), including a few N2O mini-containers.

Another of our volunteers covered Lindow Common, Altrincham Road and the town centre.

We collected 13 bags of litter altogether plus a lot of old bits of wood and metal, 2 hubcaps, and a large plastic container of what is probably used engine oil.

Thanks once again to Holiday Inn Express (Manchester Airport) for their help on our litter picks.

6 volunteers braved horrendous weather on Saturday 6th and met up at the Honey Bee, We don’t think that we have ever been so wet after a litter pick.

We focussed on Altrincham Road between Waters and the airport tunnels, the paths and lanes near the Brittania Lodge Hotel, and Morley Green Road.

There is always plenty of rubbish in this area and we collected 15 bags altogether along with several hub caps, a traffic cone and a Christmas tree!

The rubbish has been left at the bus stop near the hotel and in the lay-by near Quaker Cottage ready for collection by the council (who have been informed).

So – 28 bags collected altogether in the February litter picks.

Watch out for details of the Spring Clean which is being planned by the committee. It will run from 29th Feb -> 6th March.

Litter Picking Summary 6th->9th January 2016

After an enjoyable social evening at the Coach & Four on Monday evening, 4 volunteers met at Lacey Green Park on Wednesday for our first litter pick of the year. We covered the Lacey Green area including Twinnies Road, Barlow Road, Edgerton Road, and Mount Pleasant. 9 bags of litter were collected altogether.

7 volunteers were out in showery weather on Saturday 9th. We met at Bank Square and focussed on the surrounding area including the Leisure Centre and the Railway Station. Parts of Knutsford Road, Alderley Road, Parkway were also covered. One of our volunteers collected 2 bags at the entance to Carnival Fields and on the roadside near Lindow Common. We collected about 17 bags.

The station forecourt wasn’t too bad thanks to the efforts of the Northern Rail staff who clean it most days.

We were particulary disappointed by the state of the pond near the Leisure Centre, the surrounding woodland and the paths that run inbetween the cricket pitch and the Broadway Car Park. There was so much litter. It is clear that people are drinking on the benches around the pond and then throwing their cans and bottles into the pond. The area immediately outside the Leisure Centre is really bad too – littered with cigarette ends – surely this area at least should be maintained by the company running the centre?

Anyway – a good start to the year with 26 bags collected altogether this month so far.

Litter Picking Summary 2nd->5th December 2015

A really good turn out of 8 volunteers met at The Farmers Arms in Chaple Lane on Wednesday 2nd December.

We covered the surrounding area including Chapel Lane, Buckingham Road, Bourne Street, Lindfield Estate South, Nursery Lane, Bedells Lane, the Kings Arms roundabout, Albert Rd, Victoria road, part of Alderley Road, Grove Avenue, Water Lane, Oak Lane, Racecourse Road and Altrincham Road.

Afterwards we went to the Holiday Inn Express Hotel for free tea and coffee along with some lovely cakes. We would like to thank Holiday Inn, and especially Leanne Harrad, for their help on our litter picks and their general support for our work.

We collected 14 bags on the Wednesday pick.

On Saturday 5th December, 6 intrepid volunteers turned out in very windy weather and met at Summerfields. The area around the shops was impressive now that the shops have hired contractors to keep the area clean. The area around the Colshaw housing estate was very bad though. We focussed on parts of the Colshaw estate, each end of Colshaw Drive, the whole of the footpath from Summerfields to the Polar Ford roundabout, the area around Energi gym and Dean Row Road towards Manchester Road.

We collected 15 bags on the Saturday pick.

So – a total of 29 bags in the 2 formal December litter picks – with more collected by individuals on ad-hoc litter picks.

Many thanks to everyone who has helped and supported us throughout the year – we hope to see you all again, and hopefully some new faces too, in our January picks.

Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.

Litter Picking Summary 4th->7th November 2015

Only 3 volunteers were available for the first of our 2 scheduled November litter picks on Wednesday 4th. We met in Bank Square and covered various roads in the area including, Grove Street, Altrincham Road, Parkway, Sainsbury’s Car Park, Alderley Road, Albert Road, Victoria Road, Kennerley’s Lane and Hawthorn Avenue. We collected 4 bags altogether.

4 volunteers met at The Honey Bee on Saturday 7th along with our youngest ever volunteer (who not only helped pick litter but also drew a brilliant picture of the Clean Team in action). We focussed on Altrincham Road from the edge of Wilmslow down to the airport tunnels. We also did a short section down Morley Green Road. Altrincham Road is the litter picker’s gift that keeps on giving – it is always really dirty down there despite it being scheduled in for a Clean Team pick 4 times a year. We think that most of the litter must be being discarded from vehicles.

Despite the relatively low turn out we still managed to collect 10 bags of rubbish which were left at the bus stop by the Airport Inn (the council have been informed and will collect).

Wilmslow CleanTeam

Volunteer group helping to clean up the litter in Wilmslow