Gilly Arnold arranges the group meetings each week, and has seen the group grow over the years. What once started as a gardening group, has now taken on the responsibility of litter picking in various parts of Bodmin. Seeing Bodmin looking clean, tidy and inviting is the driving force behind the volunteers’ work.

In addition to weekly litter picks, the team looks after various flowerbeds around the town, including Higher Bore Street, Bodmin Railway, Church Square, Dennison Road, Tredanek Meadow and Old Market Place.

We stuck with Gilly and volunteer Anne as they pulled a three-bin trolley along the roads around Burden Close, their litter pickers reaching into hedges and pathways to grab long-discarded sweet packets, drinks bottles, and - one of the main offenders - filled dog poo bags. Each item collected was appropriately placed in one of the three bins depending on whether it was recyclable or not.

For Anne, Gilly and other members, volunteering for Bodmin Tidy It Team means social connection and the feeling of giving back to the community, as well as instilling a sense of pride in the town.

“We’ve all become good friends, and it has helped rekindle old friendships too,” Gilly said. “It’s Bodmin people getting together week after week, with many of us heading into town for coffee and cake afterwards.”

With 20 to 30 bags of rubbish collected each week, the team works closely with Clean Cornwall, Cornwall Council and BIFFA to ensure the contents of each litter pick are disposed of properly. Last year, the group held 54 litter picks, collecting 1,235 bags of rubbish!

To encourage the next generation of nature lovers, the group has links with the local Scouts and Cubs, and welcomes volunteers to bring their children and grandchildren to litter picks in the school holidays. They also are in contact with fast food restaurants and supermarkets in the town to work on removing packaging from roadsides and pavements.

Gilly said: “We don’t do this for any praise. We do it because it’s rewarding, and for a love of nature. It does become a bit of an obsession!”

And the hard work is worth it. The community says ‘thank you’ in its own way, with some holding fundraising events or making donations towards plants or equipment for gardening projects or litter picks, while others give the team ‘pick-me-up’ treats at local cafes. Bodmin Tidy It Team won the Mayor’s Team Spirit Award in 2025, which speaks volumes about how cherished the group is.

Anne, who has been a member of Bodmin Tidy It Team since it first started as a gardening group nine years ago, and also sits on the committees for local events such as the carnival, heritage day and Christmas lights, added: “Volunteering makes you feel part of the town; it’s just great to see things happening in Bodmin.”

To join Bodmin Tidy It Team, like their Facebook page, where weekly meeting locations are posted.