LILY Edwards is using an online social network forum to get her neighbours to help clean up Redland Bay parks.
Ms Edwards signed up to Nabo, after seeing an advert for the neighbourhood forum on television, thinking that she could get to know her neighbours, but wanted to go one step further and meet people face-to-face.
Also driven by a desire to clean up parks in the area where she lives, Ms Edwards started a group called Environmental clean up group on Nabo.
“I was off work for six weeks after an operation and would walk through the parks,” she said.
“I saw there was rubbish everywhere, often right by the bay, which can affect marine life.”
Ms Edwards spread word of the group on Nabo and is organising monthly clean up sessions.
They have focused on the park on Banana Street and the Weinam Creek ferry terminal car parks.
Ms Edwards hoped they would be able to cover a wider area as more people become involved.
“At our age we have to think about the future of our children and grandchildren.
“The more hands we have the better and the greater the area that can be cleaned up.”
Ms Edwards said they had found bottles, cans, bags, paper, cigarette butts, lolly wrappers and bottle tops.
She also wanted to encourage people to put rubbish in bins.
Ms Edwards said her dream is for the initiative to spread to other suburbs in the Redlands.
The next two clean ups will be on July 22 and August 19 from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
The group will meet at the park in Banana Street, Redland Bay.
Participants should take bags to put rubbish in, gloves, if desired and a litter pick up tool, available from hardware stores.
Ms Edwards can be contacted by joining the Environmental clean up group at nabo.com.au.