Councillors and volunteers have teamed up to help keep one of Walsall’s much-loved green spaces looking its best, following major resurfacing works at Rough Wood Local Nature Reserve.
On Thursday 13 November, the Mayor of Walsall, Councillor Louise Harrison, and Councillor Suky Samra, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, joined community members for a hands-on litter pick. Councillors Amandeep Garcha, Poonam Gill and Josh Whitehouse also took part, collecting six bags of litter and gathering seeds as they worked their way through the woodland.
Mayor Harrison said,
“It was great to be here at Rough Wood doing some litter picking and seed collecting. I’m really pleased to see the new pathways, which make it easier for everyone to access and enjoy this beautiful woodland.”
Councillor Suky Samra added,
“It’s fantastic to see real care for Rough Wood. These new improvements, combined with the ongoing community effort to keep the area clean, make a real difference to local people who use this space every day.”
Councillor Gary Flint, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Health and Wellbeing, said,
“Today’s event shows how committed our community is to caring for our green spaces. Protecting places like Rough Wood isn’t just about keeping them clean it’s about supporting local wildlife, improving biodiversity and making sure residents have safe, welcoming spaces to enjoy all year round.”
The litter pick was held to mark the completion of recent path improvements across the reserve. Finished in October, the £43,000 resurfacing project—funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)—has upgraded around 2,300 metres of pathways, improving access for walkers, families and nature groups.
Residents interested in volunteering, joining existing groups or borrowing equipment for their own litter picks can find details at:
https://go.walsall.gov.uk/people-and-communities/volunteering/community-litter-picking
Local volunteers can also connect, share updates and organise events through the Facebook group Walsall Community Litter Watch.