City comes together to support campaign to tackle litter at parks and green spaces

Volunteers, community groups, businesses and organisations from across the city have been out in force to show their support to a Leeds City campaign asking residents to please take their litter home or dispose of it in an appropriate way if visiting a park or green space.

Following the official launch of the initiative in April, volunteers and community groups in undertaking their tremendous regular clean-up and environmental work have also joined members of the council’s parks and countryside team on litter picks, gardening and conservation projects and the maintenance of paths and fences at a number of sites in communities across Leeds, including cemeteries.

Adding their own weight to the campaign has also been a range of local businesses and different council teams and services. This has included members of the council’s sustainable energy and air quality teams who at Woodhouse Ridge spent the day removing litter and improving the natural space for walkers.

To support the message that visitors to any city parks or green space should at all times ensure that their litter is put in a bin or disposed of in another suitable manner, signage and banners has been installed at a number of the city’s 63 community parks. With summer fast approaching and visitor numbers expected to rise even further at parks and community spaces, the council would again like to offer their personal thanks to every volunteer, community organisation, friends of group and local business that have offered their invaluable help and assistance. Volunteering is a great way in which to show your support for community parks and greenspaces, whilst also enjoying the outdoors and meeting new people. The council undertake a range of ranger-led initiatives, which in 2019 amounted to 2884 volunteer days or 15862 hours of volunteering work. Anyone interested in volunteering opportunities at a local community park can find out more by emailing: countrysiderangers@Leeds.gov.uk

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for public health and active lifestyles, said:

“The response which we have had from the public to our campaign asking visitors to please not drop litter at our community parks and green spaces has been extremely positive. Not only have we seen an increase in volunteers wanting to support the campaign by giving up their free time to help with litter picks, clean ups and other green initiatives, they have been joined by a number of local businesses and members of other council services who have been very keen to help.

“The contribution of volunteers to maintaining and protecting our green spaces is truly invaluable, and we are very fortunate in Leeds that we have so many community and friends of groups that day-in, day-out are doing such a wonderful job with our hard working parks team. I would like to thank them for all their efforts.

“I would ask anyone who might be interested in volunteering and supporting our work at local community parks and spaces to contact us as soon as possible.”