Saturday last was St Valentine’s Day and the residents of BS5 decided it was time to show some love to Barton Hill in east Bristol.
Organised as part of the ‘Love Your Community‘ event, shortly before noon eight of us volunteers gathered outside the Wellspring Settlement on Ducie Road to get kitted up with gloves, fluorescent tabards, litter pickers, etc. before heading down to give Gaunts Ham Park and the adjoining streets some attention. it was a real tonic for the soul to see the early signs of spring emerging, including beds of daffodils planted by the local community.
After Gaunts Ham Park was sparkling, we retraced our steps to the fly-tipping and litter hotspot of Ducie Road car park to continue the work our regular monthly Saturday litter crew had done the weekend before (posts passim). Whilst on site we retrieved some of the heavier, bulky fly-tipping (note the shopping trolley and toilet pan in the photograph. Ed.). The rest of the fly-tipping has been reported to Bristol City Council.
As you can see, we gathered quite a lot of grot, 5 bags each of stuff for landfill and recyclables, in addition to the bulky waste items. Riding past on the bus earlier today, your ‘umble scribe is pleased to report that Bristol Waste has collected the fruits of our labours.
Many thanks to Harriet for organising the clean-up, plus my fellow volunteers for showing up and working so hard.
Before leaving Barton Hill after the pick, your correspondent went on a walk organised by Barton Hill History Group on women who have shaped Barton Hill, a broad and fascinating topic.