Rejoice!

I stopped to take this photo as I was passing the Hirst Wood Nature Reserve, where a group of people were busy hanging a banner and decorating the reserve for Christmas. I assume they are members of the Hirst Wood Regeneration Group (HWRG), who manage the reserve and were responsible for its inception. As well as the banner, they have decorated some of the trees in the reserve itself with Christmas baubles - and the invitation is there for people to add their own decorations. It is all looking rather festive down there. 

Since setting up in 2000, members of HWRG have worked really hard to improve the Hirst Wood estate and the surrounding area. Despite setbacks from vandals, they keep going and are certainly making a difference: providing seats along the canal, turning wasteland into gardens, litter picking, being instrumental in getting the children's playground installed, lobbying about residents' concerns and generally keeping an eye on things. 

The banner, in case you can't read it, says 'Re-think, Re-fill, Re-kindle, Re-deploy, Re-cycle, Re-generate, Re-new, Re-pair, Re-use, Re-furbish, Re-vive, Re-store, Re-vamp, Re-create, Re-joice'. A good list that is very appropriate both for the season and the times.