Pensioner volunteers to tidy overgrown Richmond embankment – Richmondshire Today

Ernest Brayshaw.

A Richmond pensioner has been praised for clearly an overgrown embankment in his spare time.

Ernest Brayshaw, 71, has been spending three hours a day clearing weeds and tidying up the bank in the towns Gallowgate, near the police, fire and ambulance stations.

He said: I have a part-time job so have a lot of spare time on my hands.

One day when I was fed up so I decided to do some voluntary work on Barrack Hill.

I go there for three hours a day cutting all the brambles out and grass seeding, and putting plastic steps into work from because its so steep.

The public have stopped and talked to me and praised my efforts. The police have said the same and given me chocolates and said how much they appreciate my efforts.

Mr Brayshaw has so far planted wildflowers and montbretia.

He added: I have other ideas of plants to add a bit of colour to the embankment.

Richmond district and county councillor Stuart Parsons praised the efforts of Mr Brayshaw.

He said: Hes done a brilliant job as it was a very untidy area.

Yet again theres another example of during these difficult times people still finding a way to contribute to the environment and the town without endangering themselves.

Cllr Parsons added: The excuse we always got for why it was so untidy was that they wanted it to go back to nature which is often a local authority way of saying we cant be bothered.

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Pensioner volunteers to tidy overgrown Richmond embankment - Richmondshire Today