University of Bath rugby players join Clean and Green action in central Bath

Members of the University of Bath’s performance rugby programme turned out to help tackle litter during a community action event held recently in Kingsmead, Bath.

The student players spent part of an afternoon earlier in September litter-picking in support of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Clean and Green team, which has been working all week sprucing up the River Avon path and the wider Kingsmead area.

The 40+ volunteers were split into five teams and collected 48 bags of litter. One team worked their way through Royal Victoria Park including the Skateboard Park, the Botanic Garden, the Allotment Gardens and the Lower Common, while a second team worked from St Johns Road to Tennyson Road.

A third team were kept busy on the streets between the Royal Crescent and Marlborough Lane and Buildings, while a further two teams worked from Tim Street through the main shopping areas including Upper Borough Walls, Westgate Street, Manvers Street and Dorchester Street and the area surrounding Green Park.

Councillor David Wood, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “I’m grateful to the University of Bath for getting involved and supporting our Clean and Green campaign. The performance rugby programme squad did a fantastic job cleaning some of the busiest streets and parks in Bath and their hard work has really made a difference.”

The University of Bath has taken delivery of 40 litter picking kits – hoes, shovels and brooms – on a long-term loan and will take part in another event later in the year.

Aaron James, head of rugby, Sports Development and Recreation, University of Bath, said, "Our rugby students at the University of Bath value being part of the Bath City community. As well as striving to be better rugby players, we strive to be better people through our rugby programme. We have a small window in our pre-season rugby programme and wanted to get involved in helping in the community.”

Tom Williams, final year student, Aerospace Engineering. Department of Mechanical Engineering, and team captain, said: “We all have a responsibility to keep the environment clean and this a great initiative that allows the squad to give back to the Bath community." 

Residents and community groups considering organising a community event can contact cleanandgreen@bathnes.gov.uk for advice and information.

Community weeding equipment, hoes, shovels and brushes, can be borrowed from the No Place for Litter hubs in Keynsham, Radstock, Chew Magna or Bath. You can book on the council’s website.

The twelve-month Clean and Green project was funded by a one-off investment of £950,000 from the council’s 2022/2023 budget to help clean up neighbourhoods across Bath & North East Somerset.