The Wombles of Whittlefield

Do you ever walk around your local area and see it marred by fly-tipping, litter, or just a general lack of care? Sometimes, we get so used to the litter around us that we hardly notice it anymore. But in Whittlefield, a neighbourhood on the edge of Burnley, residents are noticing a change. Streets are looking clearer, green spaces better cared for, and fly-tipping is disappearing faster than usual. Some locals have even spotted a small group armed with litter pickers and garden shears.

This group, called the Whittlefield Wombles, began when Helen, a local resident, decided to tackle the litter problem herself. “For years, I’d go on walks and think, ‘This place could do with a tidy-up,’” Helen shares. “Then, in March, I started litter-picking each day, just a bit at a time. Soon, people began noticing and asking if they could lend a hand!”

“We’re getting rid of things that have bothered people for ages.”

Now the Wombles do a litter pick each Tuesday, with volunteers pitching in to keep Whittlefield tidy. Each week, they pick a new spot to target, depending on what the Wombles have noticed in the days before.

As Helen went about her litter-picking, she started to see potential in the little green areas often left wild and overgrown. Whittlefield sits right on the edge of Burnley, where cul-de-sacs meet open fields, woodland, and views of Pendle Hill. “I love walking, and there are so many little green spaces here, mostly just cut-throughs—small scrubby bits of woodland. I thought, why not make them a proper start to a countryside walk?”

As well as picking litter, she’s also busy trimming back brambles and nettles to open up pathways for people to enjoy. The Whittlefield Wombles have been warmly received by the community. “They love it!” Helen beams. “We have a Facebook page where we share what we’re up to, like litter picks and fly-tipping reports.”