The Litter Pickers of Johnson Fold have a mission to transform their estate in north-west Bolton. Formed just 12 months ago, the group received a runners-up award in the Sparkling Environment category at the 2018 Bolton at Home Community Awards ceremony.
The group’s secretary, Sharon Powell, said:
“It all started as a Bolton Live project. Now we have weekly ‘litter-picks’ on the estate, with adults and children involved, and it has become a community-owned project. More and more people are getting involved and it is definitely making a difference; the estate looks much better.
As well as collecting litter, we have begun a recycling initiative and an education program, funded by Bolton at Home and in association with Bolton Council’s ‘Love Bolton, Hate Litter’ campaign, teaching children about the impact of plastics on the environment and the importance of recycling.”
On Saturday 14th April a special event, organised to raise funds and to clear more litter, was held at Johnson Fold UCAN Centre. £142.80 was raised for the group and a remarkable ninety-six bags of rubbish cleared from the estate. The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Roger Hayes, presented the youngest members of the group with framed certificates in recognition of their efforts as ‘Litter Champions’.
Thanking everyone who contributed or took part, Pete Hopkinson, chair of the group, said:
“Today I saw, again, the very best of our estate and I could not be more proud than I am to live here. Every time we run an event on our estate we see the very best in people and a community that is passionate about its people and has true community spirit. you everyone for all of your hard work today and your continuing support of our humble little litter picking project.”
Event supporters and prize sponsors included Bolton Whites Hotel, Jump Xtreme Trampoline Park, Hollywood Bowl, Kev Gurneys Club Tropicana Live, The Last Drop Village Hotel and Spa, Manchester Midweek Music Club, YogaMindful.co.uk, A Small Good Thing, Bunbury’s, The Coffee Grind, Lashes by Ann Smith, Holland’s Pies and McDonald’s. Litter collecting equipment was provided by Bolton Council and high-visibility jackets by Wilmott Dixon.