Volunteers all set for a right royal clean-up across the Daventry district

The Clean for The Queen campaign is aiming to give the country a big tidy-up ahead of The Queen’s 90th birthday.

And there are lots of opportunities for people to get involved locally, with Daventry District Council (DDC) and its partners working to organise and support clean-up events around the district.

DDC’s efforts will focus on a Day of Action to clean-up the Headlands estate in Daventry this Saturday March 5. Volunteers are being encouraged to help by meeting by the shops in Edinburgh Square at 10am.

There will be free refreshments and home-made cakes for volunteers thanks to Daventry & District Housing and local businesses.

Representatives from the Daventry District and South Northamptonshire Community Safety Partnership, including local police, officers, will be there to chat about local issues and offer crime prevention tips.

Young volunteers will also work with the Partnership and Northamptonshire Police’s Operation Illustration team to paint a mural to commemorate the event on a wall at one end of the shops in Edinburgh Square.

People can drop by at any time between 10am and 2pm to offer their support to the clean-up efforts.

Together with its environmental services contractor Enterprise Managed Services (EMS), DDC is also encouraging and supporting groups and individuals who want to do their bit to help clear up their part of the District.

Groups across the district have borrowed litter picking kits to carry out their own clean-up days, with the council and EMS arranging for any waste collected to be taken away for disposal.

Daventry & District Housing is helping pupils at Danetre and Southbrook Learning Village to carry out a litter pick near their school on Friday, March 4.

Daventry Town Council is supporting a clean-up of the town’s Southbrook Estate from 11am to 1.30pm on Saturday March 5, with volunteers invited to meet at Southbrook Community Centre, in Hood Road.

And the Do it for The Grange event will take place from 2pm to 4pm on the same day, with organisers based at the Pike and Eel pub.

Groups in villages including Naseby, Arthingworth, Badby, Kilsby, Moulton, Whilton, Stowe IX Churches and Weedon are also among those organising litter picks during the month.

DDC is also encouraging town centre businesses to clean up the areas outside their shops over the weekend.

The council’s backing for Clean for the Queen is part of its ongoing Clean up my Community campaign, launched in 2014 in a bid to introduce a proactive approach to address environmental crimes across the district.

Councillor Jo Gilford, environment portfolio holder on Daventry District Council, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Clean for The Queen. As well as helping make the district look its best, we hope the event will allow us to further grow our network of volunteers who we can support to help make communities cleaner and greener for years to come.

“Tackling environmental crime remains a priority for this council, so we will continue to work closely with residents to help keep communities clean and tidy.”

Council Chairman Cllr Deanna Eddon, who will be joining in the litter pick on the Headlands, said: “It’s always wonderful to see communities coming together for the betterment of everyone and I would encourage as many groups, individuals and organisations in Daventry district to take part and make a difference.”

Find litter picks in your area at www.cleanforthequeen or visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/cleanforthequeen for information on support available locally.