Streets get the royal treatment

Volunteers muck in for tidy up.

A clean-up campaign inspired by the Queen’s 90th birthday has seen schools, residents and community groups all muck in to brighten up streets in Birmingham and Telford.

The Big Tidy Up, organised by housing association Bournville Village Trust, saw over 50 volunteers tidy up areas in Bournville, Selly Oak, and Northfield in Birmingham.

In Telford, areas in Brookside, Doseley, Hadley, Lightmoor, Lawley, Oakengates, St Georges, Stirchley, Woodside and Wellington, also got a spring clean. Work ranged from litter picking and gardening to cleaning and painting, and saw over 75 rubbish bags filled by volunteers during the week-long campaign.

The Tidy Up was inspired by Keep Britain Tidy’s Clean for the Queen campaign, which is aiming to clear up Britain in time for her Majesty’s 90th birthday. Jessica Allan, Community Development Manager at Bournville Village Trust, said: “We would like to thank everyone who took the time to support our Big Tidy Up. It was fantastic to see people of all ages, from school children to retired residents, who take pride in their community come together to make a difference. A number of volunteers expressed an interest in continuing the good work, so we’ll be donating litter pickers to them to use in the future.”

Community groups involved in the project, which ran from 29th February to 4th March, included Rowheath Pavilion, Bournville Junior School and Hay Green Allotment in Birmingham, and Lightmoor Primary School in Lightmoor Village, Telford.

The Big Tidy was supported by a number of businesses and organisations which donated equipment and supplies, including: Hattrick Embroidery, Singletons at Lydiate Ash Plant Centre, Buildbase, Tesco, Wilkinsons, Meadowdale Nursery and Telford & Wrekin Council. For more information about Bournville Village Trust, visit www.bvt.org.uk