Events to help keep our beautiful parks clean and tidy are taking place over the next couple of months and local people who get involved have the chance to earn themselves rewards thanks to the BetterPoints initiative.
The programme rewards residents of Ealing for getting out and about and being pro-active in a variety of the borough’s superb green spaces. Ealing residents can earn some fantastic rewards through community events such as litter picking as a result with BetterPoints’ free mobile app.
Participants can exchange BetterPoints to reward themselves with vouchers for a whole host of high street retailers, or donate them to a variety of charities, both local and national.
There are many incentives to get started and staying regularly involved – all you need is a smartphone with GPS, so that activity is recorded via the app.
Community events are taking place over August and September where you can get involved and earn BetterPoints rewards points. There are activities involved with nature, gardening and litter picking, as well as plogging – which involves running and picking up rubbish at the same time.
Events include:
- 31 July & 1 August (continues weekly, every Wednesday and Thursday) – Volunteer gardening at Walpole Park, from 10am – 12pm. Learn about plants, fruit and vegetable growing or just enjoy being outdoors with like-minded people. No experience necessary, just wear sensible clothing and footwear. Meet inside the Rickyard courtyard behind the café kios
- 3 August – A Plog in partnership with Plogolution and Ealing Half Marathon, 1pm – 2.30pm. Meet in front of Hanwell Community Centre for either a 5K run or a 2K walk with litter picking for participants to choose from
- 10 Aug – Clean and Green at Southall Recreation Grounds, with Southall Transition, 2pm – 4pm. Litter pick and some green work including maintenance of the fruit trees
- 7 Sept – Litter picking event at Elthorne Park, 2pm – 3.30pm. Meet at the deer sculpture
- 14 Sept – Nature event a North Acton Playing Fields 2pm – 4pm. There will be an opportunity to make bug hotels, help work on the wildflower meadow and litter pick the park
- 29 Sept – A Plog in partnership with Plogolution in Acton Park, from 9.30am straight after the Junior Park Run. Meet by Putt in the Park.
Visit the Do Something Good facebook page for full details of events.
Councillor Mik Sabiers, cabinet member for environment and highways said: “Getting involved with a local park, meeting up and getting to know neighbours, enjoying the activity and exercise in fresh air, and getting rewards for you or for a charity of your choice through BetterPoints is simply a win win for everyone.
“There are plenty of activities and events coming up in the coming months and I encourage everyone to get involved.”
“We have an ongoing commitment to support local people in taking a more active role in the management of our parks – alongside the council and our newly formed Ealing Parks Foundation. It’s about ensuring that Ealing residents have a huge say in shaping the long-term future of our wonderful green spaces.”
More information, and a list of green spaces that are part of the programme, can be found online at www.loveyourpark.betterpoints.uk. The app is available on both Google Play and Apple Store.
