A ROUGH sleepers settlement found in a section of woodland in Droitwich has been cleared by litter pickers.
The site, found off Hanbury Road between Body Brook and Droitwich Rugby Club, had around three tents in a small area of clearing in the wooded area.
Camping chairs, tents, rucksacks, buckets, bedding, shopping trollies and a selection of cooking utensils found at the site have been removed by Droitwich Spa Litter Squad.
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The group had filled around 150 rubbish bags in total while clearing the area.
Wychavon District Council confirmed its outreach team had carried out checks and confirmed the encampment had been abandoned before volunteers started clearing the site.
Clive Shearman, chair of Droitwich Spa Litter Squad, said: “We were alerted to a site by a dog walker who saw people entering the wooded area by Body Brook and the canal locks near Droitwich Rugby Club and sent us a photo of a flytip.
“This walk is lovely and is very popular with the local community and is used by families.
“Sue, Sandra, and I headed down as part of the Great British Spring Clean, and once we found it, we were stunned to see the size.”
The group had initially spent over three hours clearing out two of the three areas last month.
HARD WORK: Volunteers helped tidy the site. (Image: Clive Shearman)
Mr Shearman said volunteers had collected 42 bags of rubbish and six trolleys, one of which was collected from the brook, and multiple pieces of furniture during their first session at the encampment.
The group then returned to the site on Sunday (April 19) to clear the final remaining area.
“A group of us cleared the last igloo and left the site to re-nature as the others have since they were cleared last month,” Mr Shearman added.
“It was just shy of 150 bags of rubbish cleared.”
AFTER: The site after the tents were cleared. (Image: Clive Shearman)
Lisa Williams, principal housing officer for Wychavon, said: “We can confirm our outreach team visited the site last week and were satisfied the site had been abandoned.
“If anyone spots anyone sleeping rough, we urge them to tell us by using the reporting links at thestreetlink.org.uk so we can make sure the appropriate support is offered to those individuals.”
Wychavon District Council said it has launched an ambitious plan to end homelessness and rough sleeping across the district.
The draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026 to 2031 sets out how Wychavon will work together over the next five years to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
There is a strong focus on early intervention actions before homelessness happens, alongside enhanced support for key groups including children and young people, victims of domestic abuse, ex-prisoners, veterans and care leavers.