A community-led litter picking group in Crosby is inspiring neighbourhood pride across Sefton after securing a new home in a public park.

Sefton Council has provided a dedicated base for the group in Moorside Park, now known as “The Burrow”. The facility includes equipment storage, tea and coffee making facilities, and a toilet, ensuring volunteers are well supported.

Thriving community

Since forming in 2022, the Crosby Wombles have grown into a thriving community group with over 1,000 members, bringing people together to care for their local environment through daily clean-ups and family-friendly activities.

The Wombles run monthly groups, including a book club, coffee and cake, craft, and social sessions, while their Green Paws Wombles meet weekly to tend Moorside Park’s rose garden.

Their latest project involves planting and caring for flowers and plants at Blundellsands and Crosby train station.

Recently, the Scouts have created a Crosby Wombles badge for young people to earn.

National recognition 

Their efforts have earned recognition, including being finalists at the Grand Pride of Sefton Awards and shortlisted with Sefton Council in the Volunteer Engagement category of the national Keep Britain Tidy Awards. As well as being nominated for the King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the group has achieved national recognition through coverage on BBC News.

Partnership and support

The Crosby Wombles are one of many litter picking groups across Sefton, all working in partnership with the Council to keep the borough cleaner, greener together.

Sefton Council works closely with community groups like the Crosby Wombles, providing equipment and bags to support their dedicated efforts.

Sefton Council also supports the annual Great British Spring Clean. A nationwide mass action environmental campaign, ran by Keep Britian Tidy which encourages everyone to love where they live and organise group litter-picking sessions in Sefton’s streets, parks and beaches.

Zero tolerance to litter 

Cllr Peter Harvey, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Cleansing and Street Scene said:

“Sadly, litter breeds litter. Zero tolerance stops it. In Sefton, we have invested an extra £1million this year in tackling litter and fly-tipping – but we cannot beat this scourge alone.

“Partnerships are the solution. And together we are successfully tackling these challenging issues across Sefton and helping to keep local ‘grot spots’ clean.

“Every time I meet the Crosby Wombles or see them on my daily travels with their trollies and high-vis, I feel incredibly proud of the work they do to keep Crosby clean and tidy.

“Since their inception, I’ve seen a real difference in the local area. They have even become local celebrities, and the opening of their Burrow was a well-attended, fun-filled event – the public showing the Wombles how much they are appreciated and respected.

“There are many groups across Sefton working in partnership with the Council to make a positive difference, and the success of the Crosby Wombles is inspiring even more people to join the litter-free movement.

“Their youngest members, fondly known as ‘Mini Wombles’, are helping to build good habits from an early age. Local businesses, such as Satterthwaites Bakehouse, Piloto Lounge and Brownmoor have also shown fantastic support by hosting meetups after litter-picking sessions.”