On 11 September,  14 Goodgym volunteers under the new leadership of Conroy Barnett joined with Steve Thompson and I to pick litter from the planted areas of The Boulevard and remove brambles,  weeds,  and branches overhanging the footway.  A remarkable 29 orange and black bags were filled with what was removed.   Click here for the report by Conroy of GoodGym Croydon.

The planted areas will remain (save for the Joan Pick bed near the corner of Bisenden Road) a wild area, but its wildness needs to be kept under some control if it is not to degenerate into unsightly jungle.   It is pleasing that the removal of overgrowth has led to beautiful wild flowers and shrubs becoming visible,  which otherwise would have bloomed,  withered and died unseen.

I am sure all residents will be grateful for the efforts during Goodgym’s three visits this year.   A special thanks to Juliet Stevenson,  Conroy’s predecessor,  who made the original connection with ECCO in 2015.   Juliet continues as a rank-and-file volunteer.    Goodgym have promised to return in 2019.

Thanks also to the wonderful Tracey Bellamy,  the Council officer who supports borough Clean and Green endeavours with so much commitment,  and to Dermot Linehan of the Council’s Neighbourhood team whose assistance is also much appreciated.   And thanks also to Veolia,  who have picked up bags after Clean and Green events this year reliably and speedily.   (The green bags which sometimes linger on our streets are part of a different operation.)

A Clean and Green day in the ECCO area or at least part of it is being planned for late October or early November.   I shall provide a further post when the arrangements have been finalised.

Jerry Fitzpatrick
ECCO Clean and Green Street Champion
jerryfitzmsp@gmail.com

07768 287197