Residential roads in Lydney get an autumn tidy-up
A two-day ‘Project Bloom’ pilot has brought a fresh burst of community spirit to Lydney, as Forest of Dean District Council officers, waste contractor Ubico, housing partners, and local residents teamed up to enhance residential areas.
The initiative saw a wide range of environmental improvements, through litter picking, waste removal, and planting flower bulbs to brighten neighbourhoods. Three Ubico vehicles collected waste from homes and gardens on selected streets, with residents informed in advance to leave out unwanted items. In total, over 2.5 tonnes of waste and ten fridges were removed. Volunteers also filled 29 large bags with litter during the clean-up.
Thousands of bee-friendly flower bulbs were planted in green spaces around the estate and given out to residents, with the support of children on Severnbanks Primary School’s eco committee, who joined in the planting on both days.
Cllr Jackie Dale, Cabinet Member for Thriving Communities at Forest of Dean District Council, said:
“The aim of the project is to revitalise residential areas by improving the local environment and encouraging community involvement. By enhancing green spaces, we're also creating wildflower habitats that boost biodiversity, support pollinators, and improve people’s wellbeing and social connection. Evidence shows that having a positive environment around us improves our health, which can lead to reduced demand on the NHS.
“The chosen area was identified as a suitable location to pilot Project Bloom using Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) data. This tool helps local authorities offer targeted support where it’s most needed.
“A big thank you to all the residents who took part and helped make a difference in their local area. We hope to bring Project Bloom to other communities in the future.”
Council officers were also on hand to distribute new recycling containers, offer advice on improving household recycling habits, and promote reuse and repurposing. Street wardens raised awareness about the dangers of using unlicensed waste carriers and the legal consequences of fly-tipping. Climate officers shared information on local sustainability schemes - including the Forest Exchange, a community project that promotes reuse and recycling of unwanted items through regular events.
The project was supported by the council’s waste contractor, Ubico, which provided services at cost and was funded by the Community Safety Partnership. A local scrap metal merchant was on hand to take away recyclable metal materials. The Forest of Dean Integrated Locality Partnership (ILP) and housing partners Wyedean Housing and Two Rivers Housing also played a key role in supporting the initiative.