As the leaves begin to fall across the borough, Ealing Council’s street sweeping teams are stepping up their efforts to keep roads and pavements safe for residents. And, this time, the clean-up has a new community twist.
Young Cub Scouts, aged 4 to 14 years old from Ealing and Hanwell groups, are helping the council to tackle the build up of fallen leaves in their local area.
The young helpers will be awarded their ‘Ealing Leaf & Litter Legend’ badge for their efforts in helping keep the community clean by collecting as many bags of leaves as they can, during the autumn and winter months.
1st Ealing North group held their first event in Montpelier Park, in Ealing, on Sunday 12 October. They collected an impressive 69 bags of leaves.
The council is providing the groups with brooms, shovels and green sacks, which they will keep over the autumn and continue collecting bags of leaves in their local area.
Scout group lead volunteer, Neil Gosrani, said, “The pavements can get really treacherous here when it rains, so this hopefully helps our local community.”
‘Community spirit in action’
Councillor Paul Driscoll, the council’s cabinet member for climate action, said: “It’s fantastic to see young people getting involved in looking after their local environment.
“The scouts’ leaf collection project is a brilliant example of community spirit in action, and it complements the work our street sweeping teams are doing to keep public spaces safe during the autumn months.”
Keeping streets safe
Autumn brings a seasonal surge in leaf fall, and Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL), the council’s in-house waste, recycling and grounds maintenance service, is prioritising its leaf clearing efforts on areas outside schools, hospitals and day centres – places where vulnerable residents are most likely to be walking.
The teams will also concentrate their efforts on shopping areas, train stations, steep hills and streets with heavy leaf fall, as well as places where leaves could block drains and cause flooding.
An extra 27 staff members have been brought in to support the crews during the leaf fall period, which can last up to 3 months depending on the weather.
Get involved
All residents can play a part in keeping the borough clean. The council offers free equipment to help you get started, including:
- a litter-picking kit
- a leaf collection kit
- a roll of green sacks (20 bags)
- a broom (if you do not have your own)
To request a kit, visit the council’s website.
