Active community clean-ups

Siddal Litter Picking Taskforce

Siddal Community Clean-Up are a litter-picking taskforce initiated by local resident, Toni Holmes, in April 2021.  

Toni's Story

When Toni moved into the area, she started walking to help her lose weight. At first, she’d stroll through Exley and along the A629, until one day she discovered the canal. That became her go-to route, a 3-mile round trip from her front door that took about an hour, well… depending on how long she stopped to watch the cows at the farm! They became her walking buddies, and seeing them each day kept her motivated.

One day, her neighbour suggested she try walking uphill for a better view. So she did! Not only was the scenery stunning, but she also came across a pony in a field, which gave her a new reason to keep heading that way.

On New Year’s Day, Toni would join friends (and their dogs) for a relaxed hour-long walk somewhere nearby, a lovely tradition to start the year.

Sadly, her walking routine came to a halt when she developed Plantar Fasciitis in both feet, making long walks painful.

But Toni didn’t let that stop her from staying active and involved, and she began litter picking with friends. This was a great way to keep moving, help the community, and be sociable, culminating in the formation of the Siddal Community Clean-Up Taskforce.

The Siddal Community Clean Up

Every week, you’ll find members of Siddal Community Clean-Up out in parks, woodlands, and streets across their neighbourhood – bags and litter pickers in hand, smiles on their faces. What began as a small group of locals has grown beyond a clean-up team. They’ve built friendships, created a strong support network, and made a visible difference to the place they call home.

As one of their most dedicated members, Toni, has taken that community spirit even further. In April 2024, she set up The Wandering Wombles – a litter-picking group that travels across Calderdale by public transport every Monday, targeting areas where littering and fly-tipping are a real problem. Working closely with the Council, Toni makes sure collected bags are properly disposed of and alerts teams to more serious cases. Her energy keeps everyone connected and motivated.

Their results speak for themselves.

• Siddal Community Clean-Up collected 2,063 bags of litter in 2023.

• In 2024, Siddal and the Wombles together gathered 1,734 bags.

• And by July 2025, their combined efforts – joined by the Calder Conservation Group CIC – had already cleared an incredible 2,694 bags from across Calderdale.

The Calder Conservation Group CIC, launched in late 2024, focuses on cleaning the River Calder catchment area, holding regular events on Sundays and Wednesdays. Together, these three groups are making Calderdale cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable for everyone, while reaping the physical and mental health benefits that come with being active outdoors.

The Calder Conservation Group CIC had the following to say about Toni:

If there were a company for cleaning up the Calder Valley, Toni would be running it! She’s one of our most dedicated volunteer event leaders — organising at least one clean-up a week for The Calder Conservation Group CIC and somehow still finding time to lead two other litter-picking projects of her own!

Toni’s not just about bin bags and bottle tops though — she’s a huge advocate for positive mental health and early intervention, showing how caring for the environment also boosts our own wellbeing.

Her energy’s infectious, her attitude unstoppable, and her commitment to the planet second to none!

We’re so lucky to have her on the team — she’s living proof that one person can make a massive difference (and probably has the cleanest postcode in Yorkshire while she’s at it!).

Toni’s commitment doesn’t stop there. She’s also a volunteer running drop-in support sessions with Unmasked Mental Health, where they have recently launched gentle wellbeing walks for people looking to improve their mental health.

Through her leadership and passion, Toni embodies what community action is all about: connection, care, and creating change that lasts.