Last week, College of North West London took part in a huge litter-picking and shoreline clean-up at Brent’s Welsh Harp Reservoir for the UK’s biggest sustainability competition, Planet Earth Games. 

The Clean Water Project was supported by The Canal and Rivers Trust, and involved both 16-18 and adult ESOL learners.  

Shelley Bennett, ESOL Lecturer at College of North West London, organised the event and produced a detailed workbook to informed volunteers about marine conservation on the day of the clean-up. She said: “Everyone involved got stuck in and really enjoyed using their grabbers to fill up bin liner after bin liner. The weather was perfect, and the lake was surrounded by woodland full of songbirds and friendly dog walkers. Students worked diligently to remove the vast amounts of rubbish had accumulated by the water’s edge over winter and transform the area for the wildlife & water animals that live there. ” 

The Welsh Harp reservoir clean-up helped to raise awareness of the urgent need to protect local ecosystems but also empowered students to become active players in building a more sustainable future. By participating, students developed valuable employability and life skills, including leadership, communication, and teamwork, to digital literacy and negotiation. 

The Planet Earth Games is a nationwide competition centred around the United Nations sustainability goals. It challenges students and staff to engage in sustainability-themed activities, promoting a healthier, more active lifestyle while raising awareness of environmental issues. Colleges that take part must create their own challenges and measure their progress by scoring points and earning badges.    

College of North West London and City of Westminster College are among colleges across the UK competing in this year’s games. Winners will be announced on Earth Day, April 22nd 2025.