Greater Manchester residents are being urged to take part in huge UK-wide ‘spring clean’ that’s happening this month.
We all know that a new season brings with it a chance for a reset, and the term ‘spring clean’ is a pretty popular one that hasn’t come from nowhere – but now, residents across the region are being encouraged to “roll up their sleeves” and join in with the annual UK-wide ‘Great British Spring Clean’ that’s taking place from next week.
Only, the difference is, this is actually a big ‘spring clean’ of our local communities instead, rather than a call to clean up your own property.
Run by Keep Britain Tidy, and having been happening all across the country – including here in Greater Manchester – for several years now, the volunteer organisation has just kick-started its annual campaign, The Great British Spring Clean, for 2024 and is calling on locals to get stuck-in by helping to tidy up local parks, pathways, and other green spaces.
Since 2018, the annual community clean-up has been supported by Manchester City Council in partnership with Keep Manchester Tidy (KMT) following a turnout of countless volunteers – who have proudly become known as as ‘litter heroes’.
ADVERTISEMENT
The ‘litter heroes’ across the UK have pledged to “banish lingering litter to the bins for good” by aiming to pick up 400,000 bags of waste.
Back in 2023, there were 155 litter picking events across Manchester city region, 1,564 litter pickers loaned out, and 300 litter picking sets gifted to individuals and families – with a whopping 2,500 bags given to volunteers, which were later collected by the Council’s partner, Biffa.
ADVERTISEMENT
Greater Manchester residents are being urged to take part in huge UK-wide ‘spring clean’ this month / Credit: Keep Manchester Tidy (via Facebook)
But for this year’s Great British Spring Clean – which is running from next Friday 15 March, right through to the end of the month – it’s hoped to be even more successful than ever before.
This year’s theme is focused on ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ to encourage even more Mancs to join the national movement.
Speaking ahead of the UK-wide event launching next week, Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, who is the Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods at Manchester City Council, commented: “It is fantastic to see the Great British Spring Clean make a return to our city.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s part of the ‘Great British Spring Clean’ organised by Keep Britain Tidy / Credit: Keep Manchester Tidy (via Facebook)
“Every year, we are reminded of how important the work of volunteers and our partners who pledge to keep Manchester tidy truly are, and we hope to encourage more volunteers this year.”
Fancy it then?
If you’re keen to join in, volunteers are advised to wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for the weather, and high vis jackets and gloves can be supplied by the Council too, if requested.
Follow and share your ‘pledge to pick’ with hashtags #GBSpringClean2024 and #MCRSpringClean24 on social media too.
Featured Image – Manchester City Council
Trending
Stockport County defender Brad Hills ruled out for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
In a big blow to their promotion push, Stockport County have been hit with a major injury and loss to their first-team squad, as defender Brad Hills has been ruled out for what looks to be the remainder of the season and then some.
Not what Hatters will want to hear with crunch-time in and around the playoffs now well underway.
Having emerged as even more of a starring centre-back this year, following his initial loan spell with the club during the previous campaign, Brad Hills has arguably been one of Stockport’s best and most reliable players in 2025/26 thus far – but not County will have to do without him.
Although the exact severity is yet to be fully revealed, the former Norwich City youth academy graduate is said to have hurt his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Confirming the news on social media, the Greater Manchester side stated: “We regret to inform supporters that Brad Hills sustained an ACL injury in Saturday’s draw at Luton Town that will rule him out for the foreseeable future.
“Our full focus is on supporting Brad throughout his recovery – we know he’ll come back stronger”
For anyone unaware, ACL tears/ruptures are among some of the worst injuries in football, and depending on the extent of the damage, it can take anywhere between six months and a full year to bounce back.
Safe to say, therefore, that supporters have been left gutted by the update, with one commenting, “Awful, awful news”; another simply wrote, “FFS”.
After typing a very long expletive following the show news, fan podcast The Scarf Bergara Wore wrote: “Wishing Bradley Hills a speedy recovery – come back stronger!
Since becoming a permanent signing back in August, he’s earned multiple man-of-the-match awards in blue and white, not to mention contributed to a decent number of clean sheets. He’ll be a big miss in their backline.
While it’s no doubt a big setback as the League One team looks to get promoted into the Championship, the absence could see manager Dave Challinor reshuffle the pack and perhaps even the formation for the remaining fixtures.
One option is Louie Barry, who – depending on the setup – could finally be set for a return to the pitch after he was signed on a third loan deal this past January, but is still continuing his own rehab following a knee operation.
Put it this way, with not many games left, lots of County fans are probably wishing that the pending and potential further changes in the EFL could have come sooner…
Embrace announce intimate live show in beloved Bury music venue
Danny Jones
British alternative veterans Embrace have announced another intimate show here in Greater Manchester, only this time it’s over in Bury at a stunning small-cap arts venue.
It’s not often you get to see such a long-standing band play outside of the city centre so far into their career, especially in gorgeous grassroots spaces like this one.
A fellow Northern outfit, they’ve often been lumped in with that ‘post-Britpop’ era of music, and plenty throw around the so-called ‘dad rock’ label, but honestly, we couldn’t care either way: they remain among the UK’s perennially underappreciated underdogs that never get old, as far as we’re concerned.
Revealing a handful of new live dates for their album launch this summer, they’ll be making just two appearances in the North West on the run.
Writing in the post, the group said: “We’ve lined up a run of exclusive UK dates in venues that are some of the smallest we’ve played in years. It’s going to be special, but capacity is extremely limited.”
As you can see, besides the Jacaranda Baltic in Liverpool, the only other place in this region where they’re set to play for this mini tour is The Met over in Bury.
One of the most beautiful gig spots, not just in the town but in all the 10 boroughs, for our money, the room only holds around 400 standing and roughly 250 seats.
For seasoned artists like this lot, who are more used to playing big festival stages and big domestic headline tours – which they’re also doing later this year – it’s sure to be a special night.
Toasting the release of their ninth studio LP, Avalanche, this spin-off on the tried and tested in-store format wouldn’t be possible without the help of local record store, Wax and Beans, who are promoting and hosting the show.
But we can’t lie, there’s something about the idea of seeing them decades on from when they first tightly-packed out crowds of this size.
If you want to be part of the Embrace album launch tour, you can get ready to grab your tickets at 10am this Friday, 27 March, right HERE. And speaking of great record shops…
Emily Sergeant -
7th March 2024 
