10/10/10. Moorhouse Lane gets a 'Clean and Green' makeover

10/10/10 – a global day of doing!  At 10am on 10^th October 2010 our group of over forty people started work on clearing and beautifying a lane in north west Bristol.  Moorhouse Lane is a lovely bridleway in the village of Hallen, yet has been a dumping ground for illegal fly tipping.  The  city council have made huge efforts to clear the bulk of rubbish as part of their ‘clean and green’ programme.  When Fi Radford enquired about a suitable location to be environmentally improved as part of 10:10:10 they recommended the lane for further clearing and beautifying. So it was heartening  to see a team spanning the generations, including Greenpeace members and friends, other ‘recruits’ from the 350.org website and lads from the Probation Service – all working together to further improve the area.  Armed with refuse bags, litter pickers and wheel barrows we collected all manner of rubbish from the hedgerows and embankments.  Towards the end of the morning it was all placed in a big ‘350’.  The next stage was to plant 1,000 bulbs and sow bee-friendly wild flower seeds along the lane which, come the Spring, should make an impressive show.  After a worthwhile morning’s work it was definitely time to adjourn to the pub for some much needed refreshments.  Guy, who responded to our entry on the 350.org website thought the event was marvellous and he had a lot of fun.

Many thanks to Fi for her sterling work in liaising with the City Council and for co-ordinating the work party.  She says “10:10's  Global Day of Doing' brought together various members of the community in an effort to beautify one small corner of Bristol and to send a much bigger message to those in power.”  Thanks also to Shaun Pine and Denise James from Bristol City Council for providing equipment and bulbs for the event.  The work undertaken by the Probation Service  lads was a huge help – well done. 

It was good to know that well over 7,340 actions and projects in 188 countries were being undertaken around the world to highlight the commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 10% in 2010.  Well done all involved – a very worthwhile project.  It is hoped to make a return visit one Spring afternoon to see how our efforts have paid off.