This month, we’re celebrating Martin Brooks, whose work with Hatchford Brook WatersideCare has helped transform Sheldon Country Park into a cleaner, greener space for people and nature.
Martin first got involved in litter-picking six years ago after a chance encounter during a walk across Sheldon Country Park.
“I got chatting to the organiser of Hatchford Brook Waterside Care while he was volunteering along the Brook,” Martin told us. “I went to his home, and he explained the work of the group and the various Partnerships set up to keep the Country Park free of litter in addition to maintaining the waterway alongside Birmingham Airport.”
The group was set up over a decade ago by two recently retired neighbours who wanted to take action against a build-up of litter in their local area. Before long, they had built relationships with Birmingham City Council and their elected members.
“The work expanded into clearing Himalayan Balsam along the Brook and clearing a path to allow access to a neglected wooded area.” Martin told us., revealing that laying the path opened up access to the park for local residents, “This path is now part of a longer walking and cycling routes to encourage exercise and enjoyment of nature. This was vital during the period of the pandemic.”
Martin Brooks, Litter Heroes AmbassadorI would urge anyone with a few hours to spare to volunteer in local activity as there are wider benefits to being involved in addition to the satisfaction of maintaining nature and green open spaces for people of all backgrounds and abilities.
The group also supported a scheme run by the Trent River Trust to create a more natural meander in the Brook, helping to reduce waterflow during heavy storms, which eroded the bank, and creating areas suitable for aquatic wildlife.
“Funding from these organisations and the European Union meant we as volunteers could create these areas using their expertise and guidance. We used local branches and brushwood from the adjacent wooded area and fallen trees. Gravel was also laid on the bed of the Brook to create spawning sites. Wildflower seed were scattered along the banks to create a pleasant area for local residents.”
Tragically, during this period, a founding member of the group passed away, but the group were eager that his legacy should live on.
“We have fixed a memorial plaque on a prominent oak tree to always remember him as we busy ourselves litter-picking and clearing the waterways of blockages.”
Most recently, Martin led a successful funding bid to the Birmingham Airport Community Trust Fund to install new benches and a litter bin along the path leading to the park’s popular aircraft viewing area.
“We were awarded the maximum allocation of just under £5000,” Martin said. “The Group felt this was essential to support elderly and disabled people to access the Country Park and enjoy the spectacle of aircraft movements in pleasant green open spaces. The work was arranged through Birmingham City Council procurement team to ensure compliance with standards and specifications.”
Today, Hatchford Brook Waterside Care is a small but mighty team of four who meet every Tuesday morning to share their tasks, ranging from litter-picking and graffiti removal, to keeping the Brook running clear of obstacles and fallen trees. Their work hasn’t gone unnoticed!
“I suppose we are the eyes and ears of the area and residents often stop and thank us for our efforts.”
The group works with several partners, including Birmingham City Council who run a nearby urban farm. They also work with Birmingham Airport, and the Trent Rivers Trust, as well as the Birmingham Open Spaces Forum who fund materials and tools and connect the group to a wider network of similar projects across the region.
So, what is Martin’s message to those thinking about volunteering?
“I would urge anyone with a few hours to spare to volunteer in local activity as there are wider benefits to being involved in addition to the satisfaction of maintaining nature and green open spaces for people of all backgrounds and abilities.”
Mollie Clay, Litter Heroes Programme Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Martin has gone above and beyond to not only clean up his local area, but to also support nature and the community. We're proud to call him a #LitterHeroes Ambassador and celebrate the amazing work he does with Hatchford Brook WatersideCare group.”
Applications are currently closed for our #LitterHeroes Ambassador programme, but if you’re a litter-picker and you want to keep up-to-date, you can register as a #LitterHero. You’ll get the latest litter-picking news, campaigns and events, access to exclusive resources, and you’ll be the first to hear when applications to join our #LitterHeroes Ambassador programme open.
*originally published 28/04/2025*