On 19 February, multiple partners took part in a successful Day of Action in Tiptree, focusing on improving local green areas and engaging with the community.
Organised by the council’s Neighbourhood Services Team, council officers and partners cleared rubbish, litter picked and engaged with residents. The partners involved were Colchester Borough Homes (CBH), Litter Warriors and Kind & Company Ltd.
The aim of the Day of Action was to clear CBH flats’ communal rubbish areas, litter pick public spaces and talk to residents about fly-tipping, waste and recycling practices, with educational material provided on recycling and the SCRAP fly tipping campaign.
Together, partners completed several maintenance tasks and removed around 1,140kg of rubbish – roughly the same weight as a fully grown walrus! The items cleared included a large fridge freezer, wooden pallets, and a broken gazebo, to name a few.
Neighbourhood Wardens took the opportunity to engage with residents on dog control and dog waste issues, particularly at the popular Tiptree Heath Nature Reserve, where numerous dog walkers were spoken to about responsible pet ownership and waste disposal. Each dog walker received free dog poop bags as part of the education effort.
Volunteer Litter Warriors focused on litter picking around footpaths, green areas, and car parks, further improving the appearance of the area. For more information on becoming a Litter Warrior, follow this link. Litter Warriors provide an essential service to the community, allowing the council to focus on other critical tasks. For those interested in the Great British Spring Clean, find out more here.
The areas of focus during the Day of Action were Chestnut Way, Walnut Tree Way, Elm Close, Willow Walk, Cedar Avenue, Townsend Road, and Maypole Road.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhood Services and Leisure, said: “To this day, I still find it incredible that we have such dedicated staff and wonderful volunteers willing to give up their time to make Colchester safer and cleaner.
“These efforts instil pride in the community, help with accessibility and keep green areas as they should be: green. My heartfelt thanks to all involved.”
A Kind & Company Ltd spokesperson said: "At Kind & Co Ltd, we believe in giving back to the communities we work in. Volunteering our time for this Day of Action was a great opportunity to contribute to the local environment and work alongside so many dedicated people. It’s rewarding to see the positive impact we’ve made, and we’re proud to be part of a team that’s helping to keep Tiptree clean, safe, and enjoyable. We're always happy to support initiatives like this and look forward to more opportunities to make a difference."
Page last reviewed: 27 February 2025