People that do and people that write pompous letters to the papers

I recently had the pleasure of walking through Clark Spring Wood in Churwell following some excellent work carried out by local volunteers that look after and improve the woods. The volunteers - who are part of the radical Environmental Wing of Churwell Action Group - have been working over the years to repair and improve the Woods returning it to the community as a real diamond of an environmental asset.

Both Steve and Janet have but in many hours of unpaid work and it shows! The picture at the top of this article shows the tangible benefits they bring with the newly repaired bridge along with improved benches and an improved woodlands management plan. Local schoolchildren benefit and are involved in the improvement process with the support of their teachers and parents and the project gives them a real sense of ownership of the Woods. This in turn makes them local custodians and reduces the risk of larger scale vandalism as siblings are admonished for targeting "their woods."

This commitment to getting off your back side and doing something rather than just moaning contrasts starkly with the failed politicians and professional moaners who fill the letters pages of our newspapers. There are many groups across Morley who do brilliant jobs - whether that's Morley in Bloom, Churwell Action Group or Morley Elderly Action. These organisations were operating way before the Big Society was even a concept. They were and are motivated by a drive to improve their communities. More power needs to go to all such groups who are getting the work done.

We will leave others to moan and gibber and write pompous letters to the papers.