A cleaner environment and the laying of foundations for a new community group were the result of a busy day recently for residents at Beech Row, Myrtle Close and Bloom Close, part of the Bower Estate in Bridgwater.

Sanctuary Shaftesbury, a member of leading UK housing provider Sanctuary Group, and Sovereign Housing organised and funded the event for residents, which involved getting together to tidy up their scheme of litter in the morning and sitting down to discuss broader estate issues, in the afternoon.

The tidy up ran between 10am and 12noon, after which residents headed across to the nearby Sydenham Community Centre, where there was face painting and arts and crafts activities as well as food and refreshments. There was also an opportunity to discuss a number of local issues, with a view to forming a local Community Group.

Around 30 residents helped ensure the day was a huge success, and everyone can now enjoy a cleaner, greener environment, as well as a real sense of community spirit and strong relationships with each other and their landlords, Sanctuary and Sovereign.

Sharon McKnight, Sanctuary Shaftesbury’s community development officer, said: “It has been great to see residents working together, getting to know each other and making their community cleaner, and establishing a community group in the future will benefit the whole area.”

“Seeing everyone’s hard work is really rewarding and I would like to thank them all for their fantastic support.”