Last month, the Eco Team at St Albans Cathedral were joined by residents from across St Albans, who all rolled up their sleeves and took part in a one-hour community litter pick — and the results were impressive. In just 60 minutes, volunteers of all ages managed to collect 12 full bags of rubbish from streets, paths, and green spaces throughout the city.

Many of the litter-picking routes followed stretches of the River Ver, a precious chalk stream that winds through the heart of St Albans. With its clear waters and unique wildlife, the Ver is one of only around 200 chalk streams in the world — making its protection all the more important. The work of everyone involved, from Eco-Team volunteers, residents, and members of Cathedral Staff was greatly appreciated and showed what can be achieved when a community comes together. It was also a reflection of the success of the stunning art installation, Watershed: A River’s Call to Action, which was inspired by the vitality and the vulnerability of our local rivers and which was created by the Cross Art Project team, Liz Sergeant, Laura Dekker and Angela Mellen.

We were particularly delighted to be joined by the Climate Club (part of the Greener Together community project), who did a brilliant job at spotting and picking up litter throughout the city centre. On 22^nd June, Green House is running a Birdwatching session at the Watercress Nature Reserve for those aged between 18 – 30. Further details of the event can be found here and you can view the flyer by clicking on the button below.

Herts Young Adult Birders Flyer

If you missed this one but would like to get involved next time, keep an eye on local noticeboards and community groups — there’s always more we can do together to look after the surrounding environment.