On a bright, sunny morning about 25 of us came to help clear litter and rubbish from our streets and alleys (just some of them on the photos below). It was great that so many came to take action to clean up our shared environment. Moaning moves nothing. Thanks to all the residents, young and old, who came to help, and to our neighbours from Hello Student, our Councillor Amna for practical support. Thanks too to Manchester Student Accommodation once again for use of their office as a base and to Moss Care St Vincent Housing for supplying gifts for the young people who took part.

 You might have seen mention in the news of the 2025 Great British Spring Clean, run by Keep Britain Tidy. We on the Groves have registered and will be doing our part on Saturday April 5, 10:30 to 12noon, tidying up our streets and alleys. It's an opportunity to meet and work alongside our neighbours while cleaning up our local environment. The more people come and help, the more we will get done.

As before with our litter-picks, we will be supported by local companies and part of that is being able to use the MSA office as a base to give out bags, gloves and pickers to volunteers. And have a chat and maybe some refreshments. Let's take some action together on the litter and fly-tipping.

Thanks everyone who helped with our Community Litter Pick on Saturday morning - including all three of our Councillors - the photos shows just some of who came. Our streets are looking much better 👍 ...but unfortunately we know the litter will return. Which is why it is important to keep on top of this issue and add Education, Prevention and Deterrence to Picking up. We have been promised more visits to the Groves from the Council fly-tipping and compliance teams who will analyze dumped rubbish for evidence of source and issue fines - like the £701 fine given recently to a resident here.

Our next Groves litter-pick and general tidy up will be on Saturday 9 March from 11am to 12:30pm. We will be based at the Manchester Student Accommodation office at the corner of Upper West Grove and North Grove. Bags, gloves and pickers will be provided and Hello Student, our new neighbours at Victoria Point will be there (come and say hello) and bringing refreshments and litter-hero prizes for children who join in and pick the most litter. This will be part of the 2024 Great British Spring Clean organised by Keep Britain Tidy and Biffa will collect the bags we fill.

Thanks everyone who came and helped pick up litter on the Groves on Saturday, either on the day or at other times over the weekend. Here are some of our Litter Heroes and the bags we filled. Congratulations to Ethan for winning the Best Junior Litter Picker prize. Thanks to MSV Housing, Keep Manchester Tidy/Manchester City Council and MSA for support.

Our next litter-pick will be on Saturday 18th March from 11am-12:30pm. Meet up as usual at the MSA Office (corner of Upper West and South Groves) for bags pickers and gloves. This pick will be part of this year's Great British Spring Clean.

We're hoping to have some refreshments available and prizes for the best junior Litter Heroes. As the leaflet says: "​Join with your neighbours to help make our streets and alleys cleaner. Let's take some pride in our Groves!"

We will be following a recent big clear up of big items and fly-tipped rubbish by Biffa, part of a new Council initiative to take action on rubbish in the City Centre. Our Councillors have asked to include some targeted interventions in local communities where littering is a problem. Hopefully this will include some prevention and prosecutions! Find out more on the 18th

A huge thank you to all who helped with the Groves Litter-pick on Saturday (three pictured below), or at other times over the weekend. Thanks again too MSA for use of their office as a base. A LOT was collected and our streets and alleys look a lot better for it. We also reported some fly-tipping and contaminated bins. It would be so nice to not have to clear up after those still too lazy or selfish to clear up after themselves, but meantime it is good to work together for the common good of our community and environment.

We are having another community litter-pick on Saturday December 3rd, 11am to 12:30pm. Come along and help make our streets and alleys look better, and have some fun and chat with your neighbours. Meet up at the MSA office on the corner of Upper West and North Groves to collect bags, gloves and pickers.
​Let's take pride in our environment and not be beaten by the litterers and fly-tippers!

We had an excellent, productive and fun morning tidying up the community garden and clearing fly-tipped items and litter round the Groves. It feels good to make our neighbourhood look better. Big thanks to everyone who helped: local residents plus workers from the City Council and Moss Care St Vincent Housing. Thanks too for the drinks and snacks.

Our NEXT community event will be the return of our Bring and Share Picnic in the Community Garden on Sunday August 14 from 2-4:30pm. Make note of the date. More news to follow.