Volunteers Pick Up 10 Bags Of Rubbish In Two Hours During Slyfield Litter Pick

Published on: 4 Jul, 2021
Updated on: 8 Jul, 2021

By Hugh Coakley

Volunteers picked up 10 bags of litter in less than two hours on Saturday (July 3) on a short section of Moorfield Road on the Slyfield Industrial Estate.

They were hoping to raise awareness of the plastic and urban pollution that often ends up in our waterways and the sea.

The happy volunteers with their 10- bag haul of rubbish picked up in a couple of hours on the Slyfield Industrial Estate.

Organised by Andy Johnson, a ambassador for the charity, Stormwater Shepherds, the seven helpers said they wanted to “do something” about the litter and rubbish on the streets.

Carer Cheryl Hankin from Bellfields, who has won the Mayor of Guildford’s award for community service, said people were keen to recycle. She said: “Companies should be more responsible. It shouldn’t be left to volunteers but if we don’t do it, who will?”

Jo Bradley, who is the only UK employee of Stormwater Shepherd, said: “Run-off from the roads contains poisonous organic compounds and metals and they go directly into our rivers, rarely with treatment.

“We want highway authorities to have treatment systems for all the busiest roads such as motorways. It is expensive but a whole lot more costly if we don’t manage the problem.”

A blocked gully on Moorfield Road, Slyfield Industrial Estate. Jo Bradley said blocked gullies showed the lack of maintenance on the drainage system.

Andy said: “I think watercourses are the neglected cousin of the waste and conservation area. We hope this litter pick is the first of many organised by Stormwater Shepherd.”

Lily Young, aged nine, from Farnborough, said: “I’m doing this because I really like the environment. I am the eco chief for my school.”

Andy and Theodora Johnson at the litter pick. Theodora said: “It affects our daily life and looks horrible and nasty.”

Responses to Volunteers Pick Up 10 Bags Of Rubbish In Two Hours During Slyfield Litter Pick

Andy Johnson Reply

July 5, 2021 at 7:59 am

Many thanks to Dragon reporter Hugh Coakley for coming along to the event and writing it up.
Brian Creese Reply

July 5, 2021 at 9:49 am

Congratulations to the volunteers for this great initiative. Really impressed with the turnout and result.

I hope some people saw the clean up in operation and thought about their own role in creating it in the first place.

Hopefully, Stormwater Shepherd will continue with this and perhaps with more publicity get double or treble the numbers out.

Brian Creese is chair of Guildford Labour.