Despite the celebrations, some believe it should be on the council, not volunteers, to deal with rubbish.
Zeenia Naqvee reports.
Zeenia Naqvee reports.
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00:00The volunteers behind me are usually out litter picking, but today, to thank them for their
00:04hard efforts, they're being treated to this lovely afternoon tea.
00:08The Walderslade Wombles have been picking litter together in the village for more than
00:12five years. Organised by Tunbridge and Moorland councillor Des Kears, the volunteers say their
00:16hard work is far from over.
00:19The youngest grandchild, seeing Albert in the local council, volunteers, he said, Grandad,
00:25we're going to volunteer for that, and that's four or five years ago, and we've been volunteering
00:30since.
00:31It makes me very unhappy to see the litter, so I think just by picking it up every day,
00:36I'm doing a bit to make where I live a nicer place for everyone to be.
00:41It looks nice when people are coming in, people drive through and think, oh, what a nice area.
00:46We always get people saying, oh, thank you for what you do, and we always get comments
00:51when we're out and about.
00:53This is a brilliant place to come and reward our community volunteers who work tirelessly
00:58year round for us at Tunbridge and Moorland Borough Council. I think they're a magnificent
01:02group and I think this is an appropriate reward and recognition for them because I think they
01:06deserve it. And of course, we've got a few other people, dignitaries here with us today
01:09just to celebrate the work that they do in the community.
01:12But should the council really have to rely on those giving up their time for free?
01:17Councils can do so much, but this is people power at the end of the day, and we're delighted
01:21to just offer our support to the efforts that they take to make Walderslade a much nicer place.
01:27We see across the country those communities where people who live there really spend time
01:32looking after it, and those which frankly don't. And it's very notable for me actually
01:38going around Tunbridge and Moorland that every single one of our towns and villages is full
01:42of people who are absolutely committed to making their community a better place.
01:48Also invited along, former Kent MP, the now Lord Craig McKinley, stopped by to join in
01:53on the celebrations. After losing his limbs due to a battle with sepsis, he says he knows
01:57all too well the importance of the selfless acts of others.
02:01Volunteering is so important, whether that's in the local church, whether it's in the local
02:05Rotary Club, the Lions Club, or just sweeping out the front of your house. And I've been
02:11the recipient of a lot of volunteering, people giving me great kindness, and I get that on
02:15a daily basis when I'm travelling to London to the House of Lords. I often get people
02:19saying, would you like a hand? Can I help you? That is all makes the, just the gel of
02:25community go round really nicely.
02:27So with five years of hard work under their belts and no sign of slowing down on their
02:31litter picking, it's clear these treats for the Walderslade Wombles are well deserved.
02:35Xenia Nakvi for KMTV.