This week the Tadworth Kingswood Walton & Burgh Heath - @CleanUpTadworth litter picking group received a generous donation of litter picking equipment for its ever expanding and active group of enthusiastic volunteers, who have been busy keeping the streets and public open spaces of these villages and surrounding areas clear of litter since its formation in August of last year. 

Despite group litter picks being curtailed for much of the 7 months since its launch due to Covid-19 restrictions, its volunteers have been out litter picking every day individually or in pairs and have so far collected over 1200 very large sacks of both historical and new litter, an increasing problem blighting the area particularly since the first lockdown last year. The group litter picks are in association with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council who organises collection of the litter in special purple sacks. 

@CleanUpTadworth soon discovered that the Preston Estate area of Tadworth is a particular litter hot spot. One of the litter group’s leaders, Sharon Cranfield, has been working closely with Surrey County Council Councillor, Jeff Harris to secure additional funding to provide vital litter picking equipment to facilitate expansion of the group’s activities in this area. 

The new consignment of litter picking equipment that includes pickers, hi-vis vests, gloves and bag hoops have been donated by Raven Housing Trust and the group is calling for volunteers from the local community to join the litter picking group and also organise their own litter picks in order to help keep the area as tidy and litter free as possible. 

Councillor Jeff Harris says

“On behalf of the thousands of people who live locally and can see the difference our fantastic team of litter pickers are making......thank you Raven Housing Trust for your generosity. Another perfect partner!” 

The litter picking group plans to support Raven Housing Trust on a number of forthcoming clean up initiatives, including smartening up Preston Hawe, a much used wooded walk-through area connecting the estate to Shelvers Way and Preston Lane, to make it a clean and pleasant space for the whole community to enjoy. This will involve the removal of a large amount of general litter, historical fly tipping and the clearance of overgrown ivy, brambles and fallen branches, which currently make it unpleasant and not suitable for children. 

Andy Chequers, Raven Housing Trust says

“I am so grateful that we have such a great local resource helping our community and keeping the area nice.   It was lovely to be able to help with some supplies and equipment to enable this.  Raven hope to run some Community Events  during the summer where we can continue to join in with the great work being undertaken.” 

This community clean-up project is planned to commence just as soon as Covid-19 restrictions are further relaxed and the community can start to come together. In the meantime, current volunteers, including many local young families, will continue their daily quest of keeping on top of the litter problem as far as possible. 

Anyone interested in litter picking in the areas of Tadworth, Kingswood, Lower Kingswood, Walton on the Hill, Burgh Heath, Preston and Tattenham Corner can contact the group via Facebook:@TadworthKingswoodWalton&BurghHeath - @CleanUpTadworth

Preston residents and village leaders for the litter picking group, Angela Rimmer and Gemma Gwatkin-Williams, are presented with the new equipment consignment from Bob Camoccio of Raven Housing Trust  and Surrey County Council’s Councillor Jeff Harris outside the Tadworth Leisure  and Community Centre.