HELPING TO CLEAN UP OUR COAST AND COUNTRYSIDE
Having lived in Belsize Park, North London for a short time during the 1980's, I've recently read with interest how the local businesses have helped themselves to rejuvenate their local area and opened London's first 'Streatery'. I recently paid a visit to see for myself what they've been up to.
It was a lovely sunny morning when I caught the bus to Archway and walked a route I used to do almost daily passing the famous Highgate Cemetery to Holly Village with it's beautiful gothic style buildings. From here, it was a walk past the tennis courts at Parliament Hill Fields, where I played tennis during the summer evenings, and across Hampstead Heath to Well Walk and Flask Walk then down the High Street to Belsize Park. I walked along Glenloch Road (opposite the tube station), where I used to live, and around the corner to Belsize Village where I spotted a gentleman in a suit and camel coat with a bucket and picking up some litter. I guessed right away that this was Bob Stephenson-Padron who I had been in touch with and he asked me to visit when in the area. We sat in Roni's Bakery/Deli and had a coffee while Bob told me how the local businesses had worked together to encourage more people to visit this quiet spot away from the main footfall area. One problem to deal with was flytipping and litter from people's rubbish outside of their properties which instantly made a difference. Camden Council were initially hesitant to allow tables and chairs to be allowed on the open paved area but with traffic banned and new planters in place, it has transformed this small square, which was rather scruffy on my last visit, into a place that people want to visit and relax whether it's someone on business grabbing a coffee while having a conversation or reading emails on their phone or friends and families enjoying the atmosphere of a peaceful square which is hard to believe is a stone's throw from London's West End. Belsize Village's shops now include Roni's Bakery/Deli, a greengrocers, newsagents, Indian restaurant, hair and beauty shop plus others with just one remaining premises vacant which is in the process of being occupied. There are still more plans in the pipeline to improve the site even further of which much of the hard work is done by Bob who is the co-head of Belsize Village Business Association (BVBA). There are also a group of people who volunteer as litter pickers around the area which is a huge benefit to the businesses as anywhere can look more inviting if there is no litter in sight. During my visit, I was also welcomed by local Councillor Oliver Cooper who is proud of what has been achieved here. After a photo of the three of us (above), I had some lunch before heading off back to Archway for the bus. I really enjoyed visiting this hidden jewel in North London today and hope it won't be long before I return, complete with my Belsize Village hi-vis vest and litter picker, to enjoy a bit more time there. You can keep up to date with daily life here on twitter @BelsizeVillage
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Today, I attended the Plastic Free Porlock Vale Spring Beach Clean where lots of members of the local community turned out to join the annual event. Meeting at the National Trust car park in Bossington, there was a bonus of tea, coffee and cake!
After a chest injury last week, I've been having a fairly restful few days and so I was out to look for lightweight litter which I found plenty of in the way of plastic bottle tops and fishing line. Anything heavier, I left for others to collect although I'm pleased to say there wasn't a lot in the area I concentrated on. Tomorrow, I shall be supporting the beach clean from Blue Anchor to Dunster. I did walk along there a couple of times during the week but my injury prevented me picking anything up which was so difficult so had to make sure I didn't have a bag on me to put anything in! Hopefully, I think I'm on the mend now but have to limit what I do so that I recover quickly. On this bright and sunny but very blustery morning, I walked up the lane to a favourite viewpoint above the village of Old Cleeve. From here, there are stunning views of the local countryside including North Hill, Dunkery, the Brendon Hills, the Quantocks and across the Bristol Channel as far down as the Gower Peninsula. There are many evenings when I sit on the bench here and enjoy a stunning sunset over Exmoor.
I feel very fortunate to live somewhere with such beautiful views with quiet country lanes where there are few vehicles passing by. However, not everyone shares my thoughts and won't think twice about throwing their food or drink packaging from the vehilcle as they drive along. This morning was one of those days. On my walk home, I had to keep into the hedge to let a delivery pass as he rushed from one address to another. A little further on, I spotted a McDonalds drink cup and straw in the hedge which I didn't notice earlier on my walk up. I had not seen any other vehicles go past and when I retrieved it, my suspicions were confirmed as there were still plenty of ice cubes in it. I have sent an email to the delivery company explaining that littering is unacceptable anywhere but that drivers should repect the local environment of their customers and I request they speak with drivers about it. I await their response! This weekend saw an organised litter pick in and around the small seaside town of Watchet. A small group of volunteers turned out on a sunny afternoon to help and and make the streets litter free with plenty of cigarette butts to collect which many don't see as litter but with the filter containing plastic and toxins, would be harmful to our sea life as they make their short journey down a land drain and into the Bristol Channel. Flower beds and other vegetation can hide other litter including bottles, cans and other general waste including a crisp packet we found dating b ack 30 years to 1992. After a couple of hours spent collecting the litter and sorting it for recycling, the town looked a lot tidier than it did before we arrived!
With the Great British Spring Clean now underway, my weekend, which began with a sunrise beach clean, continued with litter picks along the country lanes around the parish of Old Cleeve and ending the weekend with a litter pick at sunset on North Hill. It was the usual find of bottles, cans and fast food litter along the roadside and parking areas with very little on footpaths. The photo below shows what I collected including an old tyre. All the litter was sorted and recycled where possible.
A couple of days later, I returned to the same area for a walk not planning to do a litter pick (although I always carry a bag with me for any litter I find) and was sad to find more cans and bottles plus a roll of used chain link fencing and a rusty metal stake. All was removed and taken to the local recycling centre. |
AuthorBorn in West Somerset, I have always been proud of where I live and want everyone else to enjoy it too! Archives
September 2022
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