We are at the Roundhouse in Burley-in-Wharfedale, a village next to Ilkley, within the Shipley constituency in Wharfedale. The group my son and I set up around six years ago is called the Wharfedale Wombles.

One of the main ways we work is through area adoption. Many people adopt a specific area, maybe somewhere they already walk their dog, go to school, or pass on their way to work. They commit to checking that area at least once a fortnight, though most people do it far more often.

Together, this approach helps us keep the village clean without putting pressure on anyone.

Burley can feel like a bit of a bubble. We’re right on the edge of Bradford, close to North Yorkshire, Leeds, and Keighley, and sometimes we don’t feel fully connected to the rest of the district. However, events like the Burley Arts Festival really changed that. We had Bhangra, African drumming, Dhol drums, food from different cultures, that felt like Bradford 2025 arriving here.

We need more of that, more cultural exchange and visibility, because Bradford’s diversity is incredible, and it deserves to be shared across all its communities.

For me, culture is humanity. At the end of the day, we all want the same things, connection, dignity, love, good food, music, conversation. Culture is art, food, music, and sitting together and talking.

Today is our monthly litter pick, the Wharfedale Wombles community litter pick. I think people want to do something positive for their community. They want to help keep the village clean, and it gives them a sense of pride and purpose.

I’ve met so many people in the village that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I’ve made friendships that simply wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t joined the Wombles, and that’s really special.

Bradford has a very special place in my heart. The city has such a rich cultural and historical legacy, from the Brontë sisters to J.B. Priestley, from the Brownlee brothers to the wool industry and Titus Salt. All of that history has shaped Bradford into what it is today. That heritage and sense of place is incredibly important to me.

Litter is such an obvious and practical problem to tackle. A lot of people want to help the environment, but the issues can feel overwhelming, litter is something you can deal with directly and see the impact immediately. Litter-picking is a simple way to make a real difference, both locally and environmentally.

People care about the environment, but they also care about the village. Burley is a beautiful place to live, and litter really detracts from that. Coming together to look after it is something many people feel strongly about.

Culture can be a difficult thing to define, but for me, it includes how communities care for each other and how people value their environment. Those shared values are part of culture.

Coming from South Africa, there’s a lot I appreciate here, the incredible history, the beautiful buildings, and how friendly people are. There are so many cultural events happening, and of course, the countryside is incredible.