From community groups and charities to businesses and schools, we believe that everyone has a role to play in helping nature recovery across Greater Manchester. We’ll be shining a spotlight on the passionate individuals who are already leading the way – our Local Nature Champions.
Danielle Wright is Chairperson at Salford Litter Heroes.
Tell us about your project.
We’re on a mission to keep Salford tidy and to achieve a litter-free city and we need everyone’s help!
Dropping litter, fly-tipping, leaving rubbish in parks, streets and open spaces is extremely damaging for our environment and causes harm to local wildlife who also call our city their home. Nobody wants to see litter in our wonderful city, and we can all help stop it.
Everyone can help to keep Salford tidy!
Salford Litter Heroes is a voluntary organisation, promoting volunteers to pick litter to maintain pride in where they live. Some litter pick in local parks while walking the dog, others on team lunch breaks, and some join group litter picks with their friends and neighbours. There’s lots of ways to be a Litter Hero.
Salford City Council is working in partnership with Salford Litter Heroes by providing free equipment and removing bags of picked litter as quickly as possible.
We actively share litter picking events on our social media and encourage people to become a Salford Litter Hero, by signing up on the Council’s website and gaining their free equipment.
How did you first get involved in nature recovery?
I studied Geography at University until 2018, so always had a keen eye on learning about and protecting the environment. I then decided I loved litter picking, it enables me to get off my phone, get outside and meet others in the local area. I met neighbours I never knew I had through litter picking What better way to get exercise, meet new people and protect habitats form the negative effects of litter. I then noticed people wanted to join me so gradually made it a formal group which is now massive!
What do you think nature offers Greater Manchester?
One of my litter picking volunteers said to me ‘litter picking saved my life’. That sentence has stuck in my head and I think it speaks for itself. Nature keeps people alive by physically and mentally.
Why do you think it’s important more people get involved in nature?
I think nature can connect people. So many of us spend so much time indoors and not speaking to our neighbours. By being actively on the streets, appreciating the nature we have, even the smaller sections, we see each other and it sparks conversations. This helps loneliness and isolation issues. Nature helps connect people and communities.
What do you think is the single greatest priority for nature recovery in Greater Manchester?
I think the priority is ensuring that everyone has access to nature, but also that they know why it is important. In a world where children are playing more online than the outdoors, it’s vital more than ever to get people outside.
And if time and resources weren’t an issue, how would you address that priority?
I would give Salford a fresh start by clearing the whole of the city of waste. I would also ensure that all types of plastics are recyclable and simplify the recycling system so that 100% of resources are put back into the system to create a circular economy.
How can people get involved in your project?
They can sign up to be a Salford Litter Hero on the Council website and gain free equipment. They can then litter pick individually litter pick or join our group events which we post on our events. We can also share group events for them.
Find out more about our plan for nature recovery
Greater Manchester is currently developing its Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which will set out a blueprint for a more liveable city-region, with fairer access to green space for all.
Find out more including ways to get involved on our nature recovery webpage.
