Meet the volunteers picking up other people's rubbish that left popular Northampton park looking 'like a sea of litter'

The volunteers tide the park for a number of hours every morning. Photo: Leila Coker.

Volunteers have been using their spare time to pick up abandoned rubbish every morning from a local park.

Abington Park has been the subject of disgust once again this week, as temperatures have soared and litter has been left every day.The volunteers, who all live close to the beauty spot, formed an action group back in May during the last heatwave and have been back to daily litter picks this week

Chris Calnan, one of the volunteers, said: “We started this at the end of May, when I woke up one morning and looked out over Abington Park and it was a sea of litter. I could not believe what we saw.

A number of volunteers have been litter picking daily in Abington Park. Photo: Leila Coker.

“Then we had rubbish weather so people had not been going out to the park, but with the weather this week we’ve had to go out again.

“We are at a crisis level with it now and we need help.

“It is with great sadness that we do this. I just wish people would have more respect for this wonderful space.

“Our children have grown up in Abington Park, it’s a wonderful area to play and we have known it for over 30 years, so it’s sad to see it misused and abused in this way.

30 bags of rubbish were collected yesterday (June 25).

“It’s not often that I look forward to rain, but it’s one of the few ways of stopping the issue.”

The group that started out as four neighbours, has now expanded to around eight or nine local residents.

Over the last few days the volunteers have spent a number of hours every morning dealing with the litter issue.

On Thursday morning, they filled 30 bin bags full of litter, including alcohol bottles, tins, soft drinks, broken glass bottles and around 300 laughing gas canisters.

Hundreds of laughing gas canisters were also collected. Photo: Leila Coker.

Friday morning saw a further 40 bin bags of abandoned rubbish collected and around double the previous day’s number of laughing gas canisters.

The volunteers also see a number of scorched areas where disposable barbecues have been used.

Chris added: “This way we feel we can help the authorities to deal with the litter, but it’s unsustainable in the long term.

“We hope there will be action from the local authority to try and get more people to deal with their own litter.

Scorched patches of grass can be seen where disposable barbecues have been used. Photo: Leila Coker.

“We have made suggestions to the council and we would like to see more from them.”

The group is grateful to the Abington Park society for letting them use its litter pickers, and is also keen to welcome any new volunteers who want to help.

Message the Chronicle & Echo’s Facebook page if you would like to get involved.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

The volunteers will continue while there is a need. Photo: Leila Coker.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you