Reading RESCUE - will you join in?

Once again Reading Rescue is swinging into action.  I was lucky enough to join a group this time last year (see here).  It's a great way to get involved with helping your local environment  Please see the below press release for more information:

'Business and Community groups Spring to Reading's RESCUE for Autumn clean-up.

18/09/2012
Reading Borough Council Press Release

The waterways and woodlands of Reading will be the focus for a dozen clean up teams during a major two-day clear up of Reading's rubbish hotspots.

The Rivers and Environmental Spaces Clean Up Event (RESCUE) will take place on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 October. Hundreds of volunteers from Reading businesses and voluntary groups will take part in the massive litter pick.

This follows a similar RESCUE event in March which saw 30 community and business teams giving up their time to remove unsightly and sometimes hazardous rubbish from some of Reading's most beautiful wild spots. They managed to clear up around four tonnes of rubbish. And last Autumn, 130 volunteers cleared 17 miles of towpaths during the RESCUE event.

Thames Water is keen to sponsor this new water focussed event and will be starting the clean up a day early on Thursday 11th with a team of 150 volunteers to pick up litter along the River Thames and surrounding areas. The Council is co-ordinating the clean up teams and lending litter pickers, bags and gloves to the volunteers. If you are keen to get involved, contact www.readingrescue.org.uk or check out the facebook group 'Reading RESCUE 2012'.

Paul Gittings, Reading's Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change, said: 'We're looking forward to another successful RESCUE event with the Council working in partnership with volunteers from the community and business giving up their time to do this vital work. Thank you all!

'Reading RESCUE is a valuable event for the borough   annually we have around 1,000 volunteers taking part to keep their local areas clear of rubbish for everyone to enjoy. And this popular event isn't just about litter, it brings communities together to make a positive difference to where they live,' he added.

Karen Rudkin, Thames Water's Community Investment Co-ordinator, said: 'We're now celebrating five years of sponsoring the bi-annual RESCUE clean up event. In March our employees worked at three separate locations - The Coal Wood, Island Road and Rose Kiln Lane areas - and accumulated an impressively large haul of rubbish in a little over three hours.''

Coming to the RESCUE again!

In October I joined in with Reading RESCUE.  I worked with an really friendly team from Blandy and Blandy to clear rubbish from the Thames Towpath between the Roebuck Inn and Scours Lane (they continued to Caversham bridge.  I had to leave for a meeting).  You can read about it here.

Reading RESCUE are running another event from 8 to 11 March and it really is worth getting involved if you can.

'Reading Borough Council Press Release

It's time to sign up to join one of the 20-plus clean-up teams out and about in Reading's green spaces on the second weekend in March.

Now in its 23rd year RESCUE - the Rivers and Environmental Spaces Clean up event - is also asking residents to identify litter hotspots for volunteers to clear up. Sponsored by Thames Water and supported by Reading Borough Council, the event gives people living and working in Reading the chance to get out in the fresh air and join together with friends and neighbours to clean up litter before the birds start nesting.

To sign up to a group or to identify an area which needs clearing go to: www.readingrescue.org.uk,

Email: rescue@reading.gov.uk, Text: RESCUE to 81722 or Tweet @ReadingRESCUE. Also, join the Facebook page 'Reading Rescue 2012' for regular updates.

Tracy Sacks, Community Investment & Education Manager, at Thames Water said: "The river is a key element to our business and it's really important, for the enjoyment of everyone in Reading, to keep it clean. That's why we're really pleased to be sponsoring RESCUE for the fifth year.

"Our staff are always eager to get involved and we'd encourage as many people as possible to take part."

Paul Gittings, Reading's Lead Councillor for Environment and Climate Change, said: "People volunteer for RESCUE year after year because they enjoy getting out in the open together and doing something useful for Reading. I encourage as many people as possible to sign up and join in the fun."'

Out and about with Reading RESCUE

I have just got back from a very enjoyable 1 1/2 hours litter picking along the Thames towpath from the Roebuck hotel to Scours Lane.  I was working with a really friendly team from Blandy and Blandy and I would like to thank them for having me along.  It was part of the latest Reading RESCUE project.