Danielle Shap on what inspired her to start a litter picking group in Hilly Fields

I’ve lived in Enfield for 33 years now and our local green spaces have been mine and my children’s home and main play areas during that whole time. It’s the main reason I love living here.
I wanted to do something that would allow me to give something back to the environment and help look after our beloved green space. Inspired by the litter-picking group in Bush Hill Park, I thought that was something I could easily do, being a mum-of-three, that would also teach my two youngest children to look after Mother Earth.
I never would have guessed that from a simple idea we would now have a community group of over 60 people, of all ages and abilities – and dogs! Within the group, friendships have been born, and it has created a greater sense of civic pride and community spirit.
We have been meeting monthly for three years next April, collecting 700 bags of rubbish in total over that time – including a large number amount of dumped commercial and household rubbish. Not only do we clean up Hilly Fields, but we pick up litter over an area that covers approximately two square miles. We cover Chase Side, Lancaster Road, The Ridgeway, through Hilly Fields, Tuckers Park and Whitewebbs.
We are fortunate to be supported by charity Cleanup UK, which has given us most of our equipment. We have also been supported by local organisations such as Chamberlains Estates, Botany Bay Farm and Enfield Rotary Club.
As a result of our success, similar litter-picking groups have been started in Chase Green, Botany Bay and Southgate, and we help by lending them our equipment. Next year, I’m hoping to start an Enfield Town Park group.
For our December litter-picking session this Sunday, Father Christmas is coming to hand out presents to the children! We are meeting at the Rose and Crown Pub in Clay Hill, from 9.30am.
Sign up for litter picking in Hilly Fields or elsewhere in Enfield:
Email [email protected]
Visit facebook.com/Hilly-Fields-Neighbourhood-Community-Litter-Picking
No news is bad news
Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.
The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.
If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.
Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.
Monthly direct debit
Annual direct debit
£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.
More information on supporting us monthly or yearly
More Information about donations