Redbridge locals team up for a day of community action to brighten up their neighbourhood

Ilford Hill was buzzing with activity as the local community came together for a day of community action to help make their neighbourhood cleaner, greener and more vibrant.

The event, organised and funded by Ilford Business Improvement District (Ilford BID) and supported by Redbridge Council’s Neighbourhoods Team, saw more than 50 volunteers, including town centre businesses, come together to take part in community gardening and litter picking activities in Ilford Hill.

Over three and half hours big-hearted teams of volunteers re-planted 3 flowerbeds at the entrance of Ilford with over 260 plants, cleared 60 bags of weeds and collected 30 bags of litter – and walked an average of 240,000 steps in total!

Among the local businesses taking part in the day of action were HSBC, McDonalds, TfL, Mont Rose College and Kenson Highways.

Local volunteers were also joined by Councillors Jo Blackman, Shoaib Patel and Saima Ahmed.

Redbridge Council’s Street Cleansing Team also lent a hand to help volunteers get rid of the bags of rubbish they collected from litter picking, while the Council’s Neighbourhoods Team helped with the community planting sessions.

Redbridge Council Neighbourhood Engagement and Education Officer, Manisha Bhogal, was at the event supporting volunteers new to planting with tips and advice.

She said: “It was fantastic to see new wild spaces being created in the borough through community planting. Together, the volunteers planted hundreds of colourful and eye-catching varieties of flowers and shrubs. As well as brightening up the area, the new flowers help create thriving new habitats for wildlife. The State of Nature Report 2023 reveals UK wildlife has declined by 19% since 1970, with 1 in 6 species at risk of extinction. We all have a responsibility to do what we can to reverse this, including through collective local action.”

Redbridge Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Jo Blackman said: “The Climate Action Day on Ilford Hill is an excellent example of what can be achieved by working together as a community. Keeping our borough clean and green is a real joint effort, and it’s not just about the environment, it’s also about people coming together. It was lovely to take part and see everyone bonding through the shared goal of improving the local neighbourhood.”

Cyril Bekoe, Manager at Ilford BID, added: “The day was a testament to what can be achieved through partnership working between business stakeholders and community members. Volunteers were heartened to hear from residents and passers-by, the impact the action day work would have on their lives. The project highlights the key role we all play in taking care of the places at which we live, work and socialise.”

Have you spotted an area in the borough where you'd would like to create a community garden? Find out more including how to apply to adopt the area and turn it into a community garden: https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/our-streets/spruce-up-your-neighbourhood/

Local people across the borough are also being invited to play an active part in creating thriving biodiverse neighbourhoods by getting involved in Redbridge’s new Restore Nature Pledge.

Redbridge’s Restore Nature Pledge encourages local people to take the pledge and commit to one or more of the pledge actions designed to support nature, especially local wildlife, and plants.

The ten suggested pledge actions are simple and can make a difference to local environments, especially when they are done together as a community.

For more information and to get involved by making a pledge go to: https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/our-streets/restore-nature-pledge/