Wombles Tackle Summer Fire Risks in Open Spaces | Havering 2026

Key Points

• Wombles volunteers from across Havering joined forces at Ingrebourne Hill Country Park on Wednesday 5 August.
• The litter-picking event aimed to highlight the link between discarded rubbish and the risk of grass fires during the summer months.
• Members of the Beam Park and Rainham & Wennington Wombles worked alongside Romford Town Wombles.
• Volunteers collected several bags of rubbish during one hour of litter-picking.
• Two incidents of fly-tipping were also reported during the event.
• Sue Watson warned that glass fragments and items containing batteries, including vapes, can potentially start fires.
• Rob Enifer urged residents to use a bin or take their rubbish home.
• The groups said preventing fires in Havering’s parks and open spaces was a shared responsibility.
• Residents were urged to call 999 immediately if they see suspicious behaviour or believe a fire may have been started deliberately.

Havering (East London Times) August 6, 2026 – Volunteers from litter-picking groups across the borough joined forces at Ingrebourne Hill Country Park to remove rubbish and warn residents about the dangers discarded items can create in parks, grasslands and other open spaces during the summer.

Members of the Beam Park and Rainham & Wennington Wombles worked alongside volunteers from Romford Town Wombles during the event, which focused on reducing potential fire hazards and encouraging people to take responsibility for the waste they create.

During one hour of litter-picking, the volunteers collected several bags of rubbish and reported two incidents of fly-tipping. The activity was organised against a backdrop of advice from the London Fire Brigade, which has urged visitors to parks and open spaces to take their litter home and help reduce the risk of accidental fires.

The volunteers said the message was particularly important during the summer months, when dry grass and vegetation can allow fires to spread quickly. They stressed that the danger was not limited to cigarettes or disposable barbecues, with some apparently ordinary items of litter also capable of creating a fire risk.

Why did Havering volunteers join forces?

The Wombles groups came together to show how local volunteering can support efforts to keep Havering’s green spaces clean and safer. The event combined practical litter-picking with a public warning about the consequences of leaving rubbish behind.

The volunteers’ work removed waste from the country park while drawing attention to the wider responsibility shared by everyone who uses outdoor areas. Their message was that residents should not assume fire prevention is solely the responsibility of the fire service or park workers.

People visiting parks, nature reserves and other open spaces were encouraged to consider what happens to rubbish after it has been discarded. Items left on the ground can damage the appearance of an area, harm wildlife and create additional work for volunteers and local services.

The event also highlighted the problem of fly-tipping. Two incidents were reported during the hour-long activity, adding to the concerns raised by volunteers about waste being left in places where it can remain undetected and potentially create risks.

What warning did Sue Watson give?

Sue Watson, who organises the Beam Park and Rainham & Wennington Wombles groups, said many people underestimate the role that litter can play in starting fires.

Watson explained that public discussions about fire prevention often focus on ensuring cigarettes are completely extinguished and avoiding disposable barbecues. However, she warned that other discarded items could also have serious consequences.

“People think it’s about making sure your cigarette is fully out, or not using disposable barbecues, but even a small piece of glass from a bottle, or something containing a battery such as a vape, can start a blaze that destroys acres of grassland, harms wildlife, puts firefighters at risk and could potentially prevent them from carrying out life-saving work elsewhere,”

she said.

Her warning covered several possible effects of a fire in an open space. A blaze could destroy grassland, threaten wildlife and place firefighters in danger while they respond. It could also divert emergency crews from other incidents where immediate assistance may be needed.

Watson added:

“Every item of litter removed from our open spaces is one less potential fire hazard.”

The statement placed the litter-picking activity within the broader fire-prevention message. The volunteers were not only collecting waste to improve the appearance of Ingrebourne Hill Country Park; they were also removing materials that could contribute to an incident.

What did Romford Town Wombles say?

Rob Enifer, representing Romford Town Wombles, urged residents to think carefully before dropping litter.

“It is important for people not to drop litter. Find a bin or, if necessary, take it home. By doing this we can all reduce the risk of fire and help look after the places where we live,”

Enifer said.

The advice was directed at anyone using Havering’s parks and open spaces. Where a suitable bin is not available, residents were encouraged to carry their waste home rather than leave it on the ground.

The message also reflects the practical limits of litter collection. Volunteers can remove rubbish after it has been left, but preventing litter from being dropped in the first place would reduce the need for clean-up work and lower the chance of potentially dangerous items remaining in the environment.

The Wombles’ appeal was therefore based on a simple action: use a bin when one is available, or take the rubbish away if it is not.

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Why can ordinary litter become a fire risk?

The volunteers warned that some forms of litter can create risks even when they are not deliberately used to start a fire. Glass from a bottle can potentially focus sunlight, while items containing batteries, such as vapes, may present a hazard if damaged or exposed to heat.

Watson also referred to cigarettes and disposable barbecues, which can remain dangerous if they are not fully extinguished or are used in unsuitable areas. The warning did not suggest that every discarded item would cause a fire, but it underlined the possibility that rubbish can contribute to the spread of flames in dry grassland.

Once a fire starts in an open space, it can affect more than the immediate location where the waste was found. Grassland and vegetation can burn, wildlife can be harmed, and firefighters may have to work in difficult outdoor conditions to control the incident.

For that reason, the volunteers said visitors should avoid leaving any rubbish behind. Their position was that removing waste is one part of a wider effort to protect Havering’s parks, nature reserves and open spaces.

What responsibility do residents have?

The Wombles said fire prevention was a responsibility shared by everyone who visits or lives near Havering’s green spaces. This includes taking litter home, avoiding dangerous behaviour and making sure children understand the consequences of starting fires.

Concluding the event, Watson said:

“The Womble groups are doing their bit to reduce fire risk and support our marvellous London Fire Brigade. But preventing fires in our open spaces is everybody’s responsibility, from taking litter home to making sure children understand the dangers of starting fires through misguided mischief.”

Her comments broadened the appeal beyond littering. She called on adults to speak to children about the dangers of setting fires or playing with materials that could ignite grassland.

The volunteers also asked residents to remain alert. Watson said:

“If you see anyone acting suspiciously in our parks or believe a fire may have been started deliberately, call 999 immediately.”

The instruction is intended for situations where there may be an immediate risk of fire or where suspicious activity has been observed. The volunteers’ message was that reporting concerns quickly can help emergency services respond without delay.

What did the event aim to achieve?

The Wombles hoped the event would encourage more residents to take pride in their local environment and play an active role in keeping Havering’s outdoor spaces safe throughout the summer.

The collection of several bags of rubbish demonstrated the immediate result of the volunteers’ work at Ingrebourne Hill Country Park. The reporting of two fly-tipping incidents also showed that litter-picking can help identify wider problems affecting local open spaces.

However, the groups made clear that one event alone cannot prevent every fire or remove all rubbish from Havering’s parks. Their appeal was focused on everyday behaviour, including disposing of waste properly, taking rubbish home when required and reporting suspected fire-starting activity.

The volunteers’ work also reinforced the importance of community participation. By joining forces, the Beam Park and Rainham & Wennington Wombles and Romford Town Wombles were able to draw attention to an issue affecting shared public spaces across the borough.

What is the background to the development?

The litter-picking event took place after several fires affected Havering’s parks and grasslands during the summer. In response, the volunteers highlighted advice from the London Fire Brigade asking visitors to take their litter home and help prevent accidental fires.

The event was held at Ingrebourne Hill Country Park, where volunteers from three local Womble groups worked together. Their activities included collecting rubbish and reporting two incidents of fly-tipping.

The wider development is based on the connection between environmental cleanliness and fire prevention. The volunteers said that cigarettes, disposable barbecues, glass and battery-containing items such as vapes can all form part of the risk when left in dry open spaces.

How could this affect people using Havering’s parks?

The campaign could encourage residents and visitors to change how they dispose of rubbish while spending time in Havering’s parks, nature reserves and open spaces. If more people take waste home or place it in bins, there may be fewer discarded items available to create potential fire hazards.

The warning may also lead park users to pay closer attention to suspicious behaviour or signs of fire. Residents have been urged to call 999 immediately if they believe a fire may have been started deliberately or see someone acting suspiciously.

For families, the message places particular emphasis on explaining fire dangers to children. The Wombles said that preventing fires requires shared responsibility, meaning visitors, parents and local communities all have a role in protecting Havering’s green spaces.