June 2023.

Spring cleaning with a difference took place last week on the Bolton Abbey Estate. The 40-strong team from various departments took a break from their day jobs, and donned layers and walking boots to take part in the annual litter-pick, led by Estate Director, Ben Heyes.

Fuelled with bacon butties and coffees from the Cavendish Pavilion, the employees walked approximately 70 miles between them, collecting around 100 sacks of litter from roadside verges around the estate, including those along the A59 Skipton Road.

As well as the usual litter, such as plastic and glass bottles, cans, fast food waste, more remarkable findings this year included a pair of flippers, kitchen pans, swimwear, windscreen wipers and even some traffic bollards!

Ben Heyes, Estate Director, commented: We are mindful that as well as cleaning up the litter, we are protecting our well-recognised, natural environment. As a country estate, sustainability and caring for wildlife is high on our agenda, especially so at this time of the year when birds and mammals are preparing to nest and breed.

Following the teams’ productive clean-up operation, the estate is now in prime condition ready to welcome visitors over the summer.