Seafront Gardens were given a touch of TLC as part of a volunteering scheme in Canvey. Six Castle Point Council employees took part in the makeover day on Thursday.
They collected litter, weeded, cut overgrown shrubs and cleaned the pavements. It was part of an event organised by environment charity Groundwork South Essex.
Council Chief Executive David Marchant said: ' Volunteers make a huge difference to our community and it seemed a good idea to encourage our staff to get involved too.
'I have been delighted by the enthusiasm staff have shown for volunteering. Every day our staff are working to benefit the community by providing the services they need. By volunteering, council staff can help our community even more.'
The scheme was launched in June with the help of Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services.
An environmental organisation has opened a new base at Castle Point Council's headquarters.
Groundwork South Essex has officially launched the Green Room at the council offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley.
The organisation has moved into a disused office which had been sitting empty for years.
John Meehan, Executive Director for the charity, said: 'I am delighted we have been able to transform this used facility into a vibrant centre of environmental regeneration.
'It is a base for our team to improve the quality of life for
the community of South Essex and is essential for
the future expansion of our
environmental charity'.
David Flynn, a student at SEEVIC College, which is next to the council offices, is painting a mural on the front of the Green Room to fit the theme of the new centre.
The organisation is supported with money from the Government's Department for Communities and Local Government, Essex County Council, Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend and Thurrock Councils and Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership.
Families to help with community spruce-up
Families who want to make their community a more attractive place to live are being urged to step out in force in Vange on Friday, April 25th, and join in a spring clean up.
The community event is set to take place from 10am to 3pm to give Kent View Recreation Ground, off Paslowes, a much-needed makeover.
A similar event held at the park in February saw more than two lorry-loads of rubbish being carted away. Its hoped tommorrow's clean up will see even more litter being removed for good.
The event is run by Groundwork South Essex - a charity trust set up to improve local communities across the county- will lead the work, but volunteers who want to lend a hand clearing litter and removing weeds are needed to join in.
Participants can stay for the whole day or for just a few hours, and tools and refreshments will be provided.
Our work to tidy up memorial garden
Volunteers ventured beside the seaside to continue their work on a memorial garden.
Members of the Greengrid Taskforce spent about five hours on Saturday tidying up the Labworth memorial garden, on Canvey seafront. Jackie Humberstone, of Groundwork South Essex, which works with the taskforce, said: 'We had a good turnout of volunteers spent time weeding the flowerbeds and prunning the shrubs and roses to give the gardens a new lease of life for the spring'.
Come and join us in clean-up
I attended the clean-up day at Kent View recreation ground, Vange and was made very welcome by the leader, Jackie Humberstone.
We had tea breaks and biscuits, which was brilliant.
I reckon we removed 20 sacks of rubbish and two lorry loads of invasive scrubland species and that was just the start.
With this effort we have encouraged natural regeneration of the small wooded areas, predominantly elm, with good signs of primary species coming through such as oak with holly.
It would be good to see more residents turning out next time.
For details of future clean-ups call Jackie, from the Green Grid Taskforce, on 01268 752368.
J D Richardson
Basildon
nt a hedgerow at the Salvation Army Farm in
Hadleigh.Bluebells will be nodding their heads at Hadleigh Castle Country
Park this spring, thanks to the efforts of volunteers. 
The Greengrid Taskforce Trust, part of Groundwork South Essex, has enlisted the services of an army of volunteers to clear scrubland at the park to allow wildflowers to flourish. The trust has sponsored the planting of 2,000 hedging plants at the park and is now looking for volunteers to help with the task of planting them all next month.
If you can help, call Jenny Price on 01268 695997.
Volunteers braved chilly winter weather to help clear scrub from a busy bridleway in Hadleigh Castle Country Park.
Nine residents rolled up their sleeves for the scrub, bashing and bonfire event, organised by fledgling environmental group, the Greengrid Taskforce.
Jenny Price, taskforce officer said: 'We cleared elm trees and scrub from one of the bridleways to help improve access for riders and rangers.'
Participants were rewarded for their efforts with sausages cooked on the scrub bonfire.
For more information about Greengrid Taskforce events in south Essex, call 01268 752368.
Discarded tyres, plastic patio furniture and a rusty car door were among the junk cleared from open land during a big litter pick.
Volunteers from the Greengrid Taskforce, a fledgling environmental and conservation group, turned out to clean up the run-down area off Downer Road, Thundersley.
The team was joined on Sunday by staff from Castle Point Council's waste contractors Pinnacle, as well as MP Bob Spink.
The site was nominated for a makeover by resident Lauren Hollas, who had become fed up walking her dog among the fly tipping and desperately wanted to help clean up the site.
Jenny Price, Greengrid Taskforce officer at Groundwork South Essex said: 'We filled a big rubbish truck with a year's worth of dumped items. It definitely looks better.
'The people helping out were very keen and we hope to return in a month's time.'
The taskforce is looking for more volunteers. To find out more about getting involved in future events, call 01268 752368.
SUPPORTERS of a new environmental hit squad joined forces with
councillors to clean up woodland in Thundersley.
Norman Ladzrie, Castle Point's deputy mayor and Pam Challis,
council leader, rolled up their sleeves alongside volunteers during
the event on Thundersley Great Common.
Fledgling environmental and conservation group, the Greengrid
Taskforce, chose to tidy the site as its first project in the
borough.
The team is part of Groundwork South Essex, an independent
environmental charity which organises green projects within the
community.
Volunteers spent a morning clearing scrub and overhanging branches
from footpaths.
They also helped remove discarded litter to make the area safer for
wildlife and visitors.
The council-managed heathland is a Site of Special Scientific
Interest and contains many rare and interesting plants.
Jenny Price, Greengrid Taskforce officer, said: "This was the first
event in Castle Point, though we have done some projects in
Thurrock.
"We cleared pathways to make them lighter and safer. We're hoping
to go back again next month to do some more litter picking and path
clearance."
Mr Ladzrie added: "I took my dog along and we spent the morning
tidying up the area, making the paths safer and more open.
"As the projects evolve I hope more and more people get involved.
It gives people the chance to get out in the fresh air and is a
worthwhile cause."
The day was organised as part of the Castle Point Volunteer
Service's Make A Difference campaign.
The taskforce is calling for more volunteers to join them on their
next project.
Sport-Loving youngsters in Vange finally got the chance yesterday to try out a long-awaited new £50,000 games area.
The new facility, in Swan Mead recreation ground, off Church Road, includes an all-weather playing surface for football, basketball and tennis.
The launch party featured DJ's from the Vange Drop-in Youth Club and a coaching session in the Brazilian football craze, Futsal.
The new facility was funded by Barclay's Spaces for Sport and the Groundwork South Essex Trust.
Michael Watts, Barclay's area director, said: '"Our aim is to have a significant and long lasting impact on local communities, through grass-roots sport, in facilities like this one in Basildon and throughout the UK."
The court measures up to Football Association standards and includes fencing and floodlights.
Basildon Disabled Sports Club will be among the first groups to use the new facility.
Tony Hedley, councillor responsible for open spaces, said: "We are working hard to create spaces for sport throughout the district, so youngsters can get outside and play for free. This is the seventh sports zone we have built across Basildon.
"These have proved very popular among local youngsters, who use them as a place to meet up with friends, hangout and play sport."
Mr Hedley added: " I really do hope it encourages lots of youngsters to get out and play sport, either seriously, or just for fun".
Volunteers gave Grays Park a bit of a spruce-up in the borough's first Greengrid Taskforce project. The group- including local councillor Yash Gupta and Thurrock Mayor Diane Revell were planting lavender, mixed herbs and perennials last Friday. The project was led by volunteers from the Groundwork South Essex Trust who also provided tools, protective equipment, drinks and biscuits through the day.
Trust Director John Meehan said: 'We are delighted to be working with the council and local people to improve the environment but we are always looking for volunteers.'
For more information please call 01268 752368.
A NEW Charity Trust has been set up to improve the quality of life in the south of the country. Groundwork South Essex recently held its inaugural meeting and officials say the body is now all set up and ready to start making a difference across the area.
The Trust is based in Castle Point Council's Thundersleys offices, but will be run by councillors from six local authorities - Castle Point, Basildon, Thurrock, Southend and Essex County Council.
Terry Cutmore, leader of Rochford District Council, is the board chairman. Groundwork will focus on six key areas:
Mr. Cutmore explained: 'We are looking forward to the trust developing projects in south Essex which will improve the quality of life of our residents.
'We feel the new trust will enable our communities to appreciate the environment which is an essential part of our lives.'
The trust board is made up of members of each council, including Colin Riley from Castle Point, Tony Hedley from Basildon, Essex county councillor John Schofield, John Cowell from Thurrock and Ann Holland from Southend.
Other members are John Barnes, representing the Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership and Doug Benjafield of Veolia ES Cleanaway Trust.
A playground for under fives has been built at a Basildon school thanks to £35,000 in grants. Bardfield Primary School, in Vange, received £25,000 from community support charity Groundwork and £10,000 from the National Lottery for the facility.Michelle Page, business manager for the school, said:" It was specifically designed with our three to five-year olds in mind.
" The old playground was only half as big and all it had was a slide. That obvioulsy wasn't ideal for our youngest children so we decided to build them something really special.
"The kids really love it."
She added a 4ft-high security fence had been installed all the way around the playground and painted bright colours so it does not look too imposing. Peter Christmas, from Groundwork, said: We are really pleased with how it has all turned out. It all looks like a lot of fun."
Excited pupils have been busy settling into their new " outdoor classroom", built as part of a revamp of their school's grounds.
Youngsters at Canvey Junior School ventured out into the sunshine for a special opening event.
The outdoor classroom, off Long Road, was designed especially to help bring the children's drama and science lessons to life and give them a fresh space to enjoy their break times.
A seeded amphitheatre with stage area will be used for school productions, while the wildlife patch will give youngsters hands-on experience in learning about the different habitats of insects and mammals.
Headteacher Jan Vaughan said: "We have been waiting for available funds to develop the school's grounds. The funding we have received has helped enormously. We are delighted with the project's development and it will have a real impact on the children's learning."
The project was overseen by Groundwork East of England, funded by the Government's Department of Communities and Local Government, and was designed by Essex landscape architects Wynne-Williams Associates.
It was part of a wider redevelopment of the school's grounds, which has been underway since July last year.
Groundwork's programmen manager Peter Christmas added: "We are pleased to have worked with Canvey Junior School to help them make the most of their land for learning and play. School grounds provide a great opportunity for schools to develop the National Curriculum."
Green spaces could be given a boost with the lauch of a new charity which aims to focus on wildlife and open areas.
The new South Essex Groundwork Trust will be carrying out social and environmental projects across the Thames Gateway area. The trust is based in Castle Point, but will also be working in Rochford and Southend.
The team is headed by Executive Director John Meehan who joins Groundwork from Thames Chase Community Forest.
He said: " I am looking forward to working with all the partners who are already beginning to make a great difference in the area.
"The creation of the Groundwork South Essex is a real opportunity to improve the quality of lives of the communities in the area and the quality of the green spaces that make up the South Essex Green Grid."
For more information on Groundwork, visit www.groundwork.org.uk
(Also in Evening Echo and Yellow Advertiser that week)
Groundwork South Essex
Groundwork South Essex
Council Offices, Kiln Road
Thundersley, Benfleet
Essex SS7 1TF
| T | 01268 752368 |
| F | 01268 756475 |
| E | info.southessex@groundwork.org.uk |
