Previous postings show just how successful our South Terrace 'Big Spring Clean and Planting' on 6 April turned out. With sixteen adults and six children participating throughout the morning, it was a joy in both making our environment better for residents, and in adding a cohesive glue to our little South Terrace community.
Since then, our efforts have not gone unnoticed. Susan Jaleel, writing in the Northern Echo said,
"I wish to thank whoever is responsible for clearing the spare ground on Victoria Road between Feethams and Sainsbury's entrance. For a long time that area has been a dumping ground for all manner of detritus and an embarrassment at the main out-of-town ring road. Now transformed, even with the addition of a colourful patch of flowers, it has made a huge difference. Let's try and keep it that way".
Mrs S Western of Hurworth was stirred to write back to 'Hear All Sides',
"In reply to Susan Jaleel’s letter (HAS, Apr 18) regarding the very clean piece of road between Feethams and Sainsbury’s, in Darlington. A short time ago I saw a family cleaning it with two very small children who were having great fun trying to pick things up with rather large litter pickers. I hope they were proud of themselves. They should be".
Richard Reynolds, leader of 'guerrillagardening.org', and National Hero, commented about our efforts at South Terrace,
"Tremendous. What a great transformation".
Today, in sunshine, our work looks great, as these shots show.
And here, the diversity of flora in the lane.
LitterFreeDurham
ReplyDelete2013 BIG SPRING CLEAN
Gerald G. Lee
gerald.lee@darlington.gov.uk
July 19th 2013
Hello everyone,
On behalf of Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and LitterFreeDurham, thank you for taking part in this year’s BIG Spring Clean. We would be grateful if you would also thank every member in your Litter Picking team for making this year’s BIG Spring Clean so successful. With their help and support they contributed to the following:-
118 Litter Picks
1910 Litter Pickers took part
1693 bags of litter were removed from our communities
The Environment Agency provided teams of men and machines and removed
• 5 tons of rubbish from the River Skerne in Darlington
• 1 tone of rubbish from the River Wear in Durham
Blackhall Beach Pick – 7 tons of rubbish
Increasing public awareness & publicity for this year’s campaign was achieved by:-
• Addressing 1510 young people in schools
• Interviews on Radio Cleveland
• Newspaper coverage in
• Northern Echo
• Newton News
• Sunderland Echo
• Darlington and Stockton Times
• Teesdale Mercury
• Ward Surgery Letters
• Parish Magazines
• Posters displayed in Arriva busses.
Many of you will also be aware that for the first time we are awarding individuals and groups for taking part in our BIG SPRING CLEAN.
We have awarded £20 to an individual and £30 to a Community Group of school. The winners were picked at random and I am pleased to announce that the winners are:-
North Durham
• Individual – Lorna Berry, Langley Park
• Group – no entries
East Durham
• Individual – David Burn Blackhall
• Group – Shadforth Play Group
South Durham
• Individual – John Hart, Millenium Green Volunteers
• Group – Greenfield School
Darlington
• Individual – Lauren McIntyre, Corporation Rd Primary School Litter Picking Group
• Group – Marc Symington
So all in all an extremely successful campaign. I hope you have enjoyed the experience. As a monthly litter picker myself, I and my fellow litter pickers feel a great sense of satisfaction having spent a couple of hours walking along the road side removing litter and seeing the difference our efforts have made. As volunteers who are doing so much for your own communities I do hope that you are all feel this same sense of satisfaction for a job well done.
Best wishes,
Gerald G. Lee
Chair of LitterFreeDurham