Lubrizol employees volunteer to clean up local river bank
Employees from a Huddersfield company stepped away from their computers and labs to help clean up a peaceful riverside way so it can be enjoyed by others.
A group of seven employees at Lubrizol, an additives plant based on Leeds Road, swapped lab coats and laptops for shears and spades as they put their backs into cutting back overgrown vegetation and clearing rubbish from the Spa Wood area of the River Holme.
Lubrizol staff said they enjoyed the chance to get outdoors and undertake a few hours of physical work to enhance the local environment.
Lubrizol employees cleaning up their local area.
Much of their efforts were spent ridding the area of Himalayan balsam, a highly invasive non-native plant that is a particular problem along riverbanks due to the way its seeds spread widely when carried by water. With plants growing up to two and a half metres tall, Himalayan balsam affects the ecology of an area because it stifles the growth of other native plants. Brought over to the UK in the Victorian era, it is an actual offence in England and Wales to plant or otherwise grow Himalayan balsam in the wild.
Faiza Mahmood, a process chemist at Lubrizol who organised and took part in the day’s volunteering, said: “We spent a lot of time cutting back vegetation, cleaning and installing some way markers. We also spent some time bashing out the Himalayan balsam. You need to stamp on it!
“My day job is lab-based so it was really good to get out and do some hard grafting. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A lot of people living locally may still not be aware that this lovely riverside walk exists, so hopefully our work will help enhance this pretty and tranquil part of Huddersfield.
The River Holme in Huddersfield
“It is so good to give back to the community. We try to do three or four volunteer activities a year but during Covid it became difficult to do that, so it was really nice to be back outside again.”
The volunteer day was co-ordinated by a group called River Holme Connections which is aiming to protect, preserve and enhance the river so it can be enjoyed by the local community.
The River Holme which Lubrizol employees help to clean up.
Ffion Robb, who has recently joined the organisation as a river ranger, said: “This part of the river is in a lovely section of wood. The first time we ever got down there to clean it up we found all sorts of rubbish including mattresses, needles and glass.
“The team from Lubrizol were fantastic. They were fabulous, really enthusiastic. We got a big section of the path cleared, and we all had a great day.
“It’s important to clear away Himalayan balsam so that native plants can thrive along the riverbanks.”
ENDS
Photos: The peaceful river Holme, plus the Lubrizol team in action.
For further information please contact Lucy Stephens on 0771 983 9446 or email
