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Teenagers spearhead estate clean-up     
A neglected pond on a Witney housing estate is well on the way to recovery after local residents and local landlord Sovereign Housing Association rolled up their sleeves to give the place a makeover.

The group was started by 13-year-old James Baughan and his friend Luke Stratford, who saw their pond on the Henry Box estate littered with rubbish and overgrown with willow trees, and on Sunday set about clearing the debris in preparation for spring.

James Baughan said: “We know there are frogs, snails and plants in the pond, but it was being neglected and people throw rubbish in it. We asked Sovereign for help, and it’s really coming on now.”

Sovereign has helped organise litter picks in recent months, and provided a grant so James can set up a website to get more local involvement. Sovereign staff have also joined in the clean-up.

Resident Participation Officer Claire Keith-Anderson said: “We hope to encourage local residents to stop throwing rubbish which in turn will help the wildlife.”

More clean-ups are needed, and the group hopes to lobby the council for signs to discourage litter.

Published 23 January 2006
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