Volunteers reclaim neglected path

Photo: Laura Wild

The volunteers on the unadopted path on St. Albans Street, Rochdale

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Members of the community gave up their Sunday afternoon today (25 July 2010) to clean an area of land which drastically needs improving.

Twelve volunteers who live close to a small unadopted path on St. Albans Street, near Broadfield Park, Rochdale, started the clean up at 1.00pm where they cut back trees, removed rubbish and restored the land.

The clean up was organised by ‘On Your Doorstep…’ a team founded by the same environmental campaigners  and community activists who launched Rochdale’s Earth Cafe in January, and the towns Environmental Sustainability Action Forum in April.

“We want to reclaim this piece of land for the majority of people who live on the surrounding streets, particularly children and parents, those who use this route as part of their morning school run on a daily basis and the many others  in our local community who treat this ‘ginnel’ with due care  and appreciation.

“We believe that environmentalism truly begins at home, literally on our very own doorsteps, it does not have to be just in the Rainforests of South America or protecting Polar Bears in the Arctic, vital though these activities are, by acting locally we aim to play our small part in rising to the global challenges we all collectively face in protecting our planet from environmental degradation,” said event organiser Helen McCarthy.

Andrew Wastling from the Earth Café added: “This has really brought the community together, this area was neglected it was overgrown and full of rubbish and it is all about reclaiming the space, we have had help from the council which we are grateful for. The weather has certainly helped too and we are planning to do more of these clean ups in the future.

“Our message is the environment starts on your doorstep and if areas are cleaned up and there is a sense of ownership then in the long run these areas will be respected and looked after.”

The activity is part of a five-month campaign called CSV Action Earth supported by Morrisons supermarkets. The campaign is organised by the UK’s leading volunteering and training charity, Community Service Volunteers (CSV).