It was bin bags at the ready in Wichelstowe this week, as Willowbrook View care home teamed up with Wroughton and Wichelstowe Parish Council to organise a town-wide litter pick.
The event brought together a cross-section of the community – residents of Willowbrook View, pupils and families from Kingfisher Primary School, and several parish councillors – all united in the simple but rewarding task of giving the neighbourhood a spring clean.
The day began in the landscaped grounds of Willowbrook View on Barwell Avenue, where more than 20 volunteers armed themselves with grabbers, gloves and refreshments before heading out into the streets. The home, which shares a community garden with Kingfisher Primary, saw some of its own residents join forces with the school’s youngsters to tackle the litter.
Jane Edwards, General Manager at Willowbrook View, said the day was a genuine highlight for everyone involved:
“The litter pick was such a delightful day for our residents, who I think really enjoyed connecting with folk in the community and making a meaningful contribution to the town. Clean and well-maintained streets make such a huge difference to how people relate to where they live; and the feeling of coming together for a common cause was really fantastic.”
The initiative ties into Keep Britain Tidy’s national “Love Where You Live” campaign, which aims to inspire people to take pride in their surroundings. The Parish Council has already set up several litter pick stations in Wroughton and plans to extend the scheme into Wichelstowe. With no permanent base in the area yet, Willowbrook View stepped forward to host the latest event.
Christopher Guest, Customer Relationship Manager at the care home, helped co-ordinate the effort and encouraged local partners to lend their support.
Amanda Woodhead, Community Projects & Grants Officer at Wroughton and Wichelstowe Parish Council, praised the collaboration:
“We are so grateful to Willowbrook View for hosting this event and for being such helpful and proactive partners! Our goal is to create a cleaner, happier, and more connected community by inspiring people to come together and maintain the places they love. For us, ‘Love Where You Live’ is as much about people as it is about places – so we’re thrilled to have built such a strong connection with Willowbrook View.”
As part of the Connaught Care Collection, Willowbrook View is no stranger to community involvement, combining luxury care with strong local partnerships. This latest project underlines how much can be achieved when residents, schools and councillors work side by side.
