WOKINGHAM’S litter heroes came out in force last weekend to take part in the annual community clean up.
Volunteers from communities across the Borough donned hi-vis jackets and litter pickers to help tidy up Wokingham.
During a couple of hours every year, the community litter picks collect hundreds of bags of rubbish from grass verges, parks and pathways.
And this year was no different, with residents from every village and town in the borough coming together to take pride in their local area.
Thirty people took part in the Charvil litter pick on Sunday, April 2, including members of Sonning Beavers, collecting around 50 bags of rubbish, as well as abandoned shopping trolleys, radiators and car tyres.
Organiser Miranda Parker from the Parish Council said: “The Parish Council was very pleased with the turn-out and are very grateful to all the residents who have helped to make Charvil a tidier place.”
A stolen purse was among the treasures found during the Evendons litter pick.
A total of 27 volunteers helped to collect 37 bags’ worth of trash on Sunday, which made a huge difference to the area.
Ken Rowlands, the Chair of Wokingham Town and Evendons Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) said: “A big thank you to everyone who took part in the litter pick on Saturday, we had 27 volunteers who collected 37 bags of rubbish.
“One of the more interesting finds was a purse which had been stolen, so we managed to return it to its rightful owner.”
The Swallowfield litter pick was described as a ‘rip-roaring success’ on Saturday, April 1, with a record-breaking 71 volunteers turning up to lend a hand.
An incredible 115 bags of rubbish were collected, as well as several dozen car tyres and building materials.
Last year, litter pickers found a collection of medals in the river which were later returned to the recipient’s relatives.
Organiser Nigel Adams said: “No really exciting finds this year I’m afraid, but we did find an intravenous drip bag, an arrow, weightlifting weights, a mini motorbike with a tank full of petrol, a Polish ID card and several large parts of a van chassis that fishermen found in the river.”
Emmbrook residents were disgusted to find bags of dog’s mess lurking in the bushes but were pleased with the amount of rubbish they managed to take off the streets.
Conservative councillor UllaKarin Clark who led the pick said: “It went very well.
“Emmbrook Conservative councillors were joined by several local residents and also some living elsewhere in the borough. We split up into groups of two and managed to cover a lot of different areas.
“It was disappointing to find that people apparently think it is OK to dispose of bags of dog mess in the bushes. Quite a few were collected that morning by the litter pickers.”
Earley held its litter pick on March 19 and saw 69 bags of rubbish and 18 bags of recyclables collected.
Organiser Grahame Hawker said: “A large area was covered during the morning and afternoon sessions. In addition other larger objects including two shopping trolleys, a computer, wooden furniture, a pram, folding table and chairs, a double mattress, loppers, garden shears and a porcelain bird feeder were also collected.
“We are very grateful that so many people gave up their time to help make Earley an even nicer place for all its residents to live in.”
Wokingham Borough Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Cllr Angus Ross said: “Every year I am delighted so many groups and individuals come out to clear up the borough during our community litter pick weekend. We were not let down by the efforts last weekend.
“I’d like to thank the organisers and volunteers and especially the cubs and brownies who all made such a difference.”
