Acting alone can be daunting, but joining forces with people in the local community is a great way to turn your ideas into action. A group of residents in the Sneinton area of Nottingham are doing just that!  

The area is densely populated, and litter and fly-tipping can be a real problem. For one resident, it all got too much. Back in April, Sarah posted on a local Facebook group to say she was fed up of all the litter and wanted to know if anyone else would be interested in doing something about it.  

Replies poured in with many people saying they felt the same. Before long there was a WhatsApp group, Facebook page, and a date set for the first meeting.  

Taking action 

Lots of ideas came up during the discussion, as people shared their experiences and felt a sense of relief that they weren’t alone. One member said “it feels much better just knowing you’re not the only one trying to do something about this”.  

One group member volunteered her graphic design skills and designed some eye catching posters. Another advised the group to join the city Clean Champion scheme and request litter-picking equipment. Others had ideas to bring art and music into the campaign, to gain interest and make their message stand out.  

The group name was decided at the second meeting: Sneinton Waste Action Group, or SWAG. It was decided that SWAG would host regular litter picks, tackling a different part of the neighbourhood each time. Each time the group goes out the response is overwhelmingly positive, with people regularly stopping to say thank you. New members have joined this way too. 

The group wants to raise awareness and show that littering isn’t welcome in their neighbourhood. “The litter comes back each time” says Sarah, “but at least we’re doing something”. Lena agrees “it's nice to meet up for an hour and do good”.  

The rubbish all gets reported to the city council who come and collect it – so far SWAG has removed nearly 50 bags of rubbish as well as reporting many more items too large to be bagged up.  

Wider impact 

The group’s effects reach beyond clearing rubbish. One resident, Lena, worked hard to get a large planter for the corner of her street. What was once a fly-tipping hot spot, is now home to flowers and greenery. The group hopes to follow this lead with more planters and, in Lena’s words, “less rubbish, more blooms”.  

Litter picks have blended into gardening sessions, with flower seeds being sown under street trees. Another side effect is the friendship and new connections being made. Several members were new to the area, so joining SWAG was a great way to meet people. Neighbours have swapped unwanted items and local knowledge through the group chat.  

The group has shared inspiration from groups like this who have transformed unloved streets, and ideas for a ‘Street Safari’ event where unwanted goods are put outside to be swapped.  

This is the story of a group of ordinary people who decided to do something positive in their environment. The battle is not over and there is much more to do, but perhaps they will inspire you to reach out into your own community and see if that nature-friendly idea can become a reality. You may be surprised by what happens next!