Helpers make Healey Dell spotless

Children with rubbish they had collected

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A group of volunteers put on their waterproofs and headed to Healey Dell for this year’s ‘Splash and Sizzle’ event today (Saturday 9 October 2010).

The event, a clean up of Healey Dell and the river, was attended by parents, grandparents and children.

Over 20 people took part in the clean up, which is now an annual event in a bid to keep the area tidy.

It was hosted by the Friends of Healey Dell in conjunction with the Young Friends of Healey Dell.

The groups sees a variety of people of a variety of ages keen to look after the much loved beauty spot take part in various clean ups and policing of the Dell.

The friends of Healey Dell has been running for about twenty years and although the area doesn’t suffer from litter as much as it once did the clean ups are still required.

The volunteers split up into four groups with the adults focusing on the river and the children on the paths.

Norman Moore, treasurer of the friends group said: “I am very pleased with how it has gone today, we have had a great turn out and it has been a beautiful day. This is an activity that is ideal for all the family.”

Brog Smith from Sustrans, takes care of the younger friends group, she said: “It has been fantastic, it started off a drizzly day but it has come lovely.

“The children are fantastic, they never let us down. This is a really nice way of getting people together and we are always looking for more people to get involved.”

Following the clean up, it was evident lots of hard work had been taking place because of all the bags of rubbish the volunteers had filled.

When the groups arrived back at the Rangers Office they were able to wash up and enjoy the ‘sizzle’ part of the day – the BBQ!

Healey Dell ranger, Richard Whittle, said: “The evidence speaks for itself, it has been a good day with a good turnout which is much appreciated and it is always good to socialise at the end – I am very pleased with today’s results”