Wigan-based volunteer group receives donation from United Utilities to aid clean-up efforts

Friends of Skitters Woods has received a welcome boost to their environmental initiatives thanks to an equipment donation from United Utilities’ Community Fund.

The community group is comprised mostly of children, along with six adult organisers and some local volunteers. Their aim is to educate children about nature through hands-on activities, including initiatives that improve the environment such as litter picking.

The group are known by locals for encouraging children from as young as five to unplug from screens and other distractions and focus on the natural world around them. As well as organising group litter picking initiatives, the adult supervisors put on activities such as den and rope swing making, campfire cooking and nature identification.

The group reached out to United Utilities because they were in need of some new litter picking equipment and protective clothing. To make their clean-up efforts more efficient, the group requested cut resistant gloves, trigger litter pickers, gardening tools, tarpaulin and kneeling mats. The volunteers asked for this equipment to come in child friendly sizes.

Karen Williams, representative of Friend of Skitters Woods, commented: “The equipment provided by United Utilities has made a huge difference to our efforts.

“At Friends of Skitters Woods, we emphasise the importance of spending time outdoors and respecting our natural surroundings. With access to screens being so commonplace in today’s society, it is important for young people to switch off from time to time. We want our litter-picking efforts to teach our younger members that we are responsible for the nature around us, and it is important that we take care of it.”

Iain Pilling, Area Engagement Lead for Lancashire at United Utilities at United Utilities, added: “Litter in woodland areas can cause harm to wildlife and nearby water courses. It also makes pleasant outdoor spaces look unsightly.

“We are very fortunate to have groups like Friends of Skitters Woods in Wigan, who go above and beyond to ensure the safety of our local wildlife.”

The United Utilities Community Fund provides up to £2,500 to projects that focus on:

• Local watercourses
• Environmental wellbeing
• Sustainable drainage

Community groups that are interested in applying for support can email: Stakeholderrelations@uuplc.co.uk.