Photo: Jesmond Community Festival - https://www.facebook.com/jesmondfestival/

Keep Jesmond Clean began a ‘Big Tidy Up!’ as part of the Jesmond Community Festival on Friday May 12^th.

The clean-up activities, which ran from 4-7pm, were the first of two events which are set to take place during the festival – the aim being to bring environmental issues and cleanliness once again to the attention of Jesmond residents.

One member of Keep Jesmond Clean, Gavin Aarvold, said that through these events they “hope to encourage residents to take the initiative to look after their own areas.”

On May 12^th, Keep Jesmond Clean had one of their biggest turn-outs yet, with 18 volunteers gathering to help tidy up.

The clean-up operations were concentrated on the area around St George’s Green, where the main activities of the Jesmond Festival and Grand Festival Fair are to be held.

After this, due to the successful turn out, the team were able to focus their attention on the streets between Osborne Road and the Metro line, which have been completely cleared.

The clean-up team then went to 97 & Social for socialising and refreshments.

Aarvold continued: “97 & Social did us proud, providing space to assemble and debrief over cups of tea, delicious sandwiches and sweet potato chips. Many thanks to their lovely staff.”

The second festival clean-up event will be held on Sunday May 21^st at 10am to clean-up Jesmond Vale. To get involved, please contact gavinaarvold@icloud.com.