Huge crowds are expected to gather on Woodhouse Moor in Hyde Park for 4/20 day next week to celebrate cannabis.
Last year drone footage showed people packed onto the hazy park, with smoke seen drifting above the crowds. April 20, or 4/20 in US form, has become an international day for the celebration of cannabis and counterculture, taken from the slang 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty), which refers to smoking cannabis, especially around 4.20pm.
But there was anger after the park was left trashed after hundreds descended for the celebration. Videos from the park in Leeds showed rubbish piled high prompting Leeds City Council to slam those who chose to leave their mess behind in a public warning.
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As 4/20 day 2022 approaches, students from Leeds Beckett University have organised a Big 4/21 Clean Up event on April 21 to collect litter left behind from the previous day. A spokesperson for the group said they are looking for more volunteers to join their team.
They said: “Every year, students are criticised for the mess left over after the 4/20 event in Hyde Park. This year, a group of second-year Events Management students from Leeds Beckett University decided that they didn't want a few students to have a negative impact on the community, and give students in Leeds a bad reputation.
''This year, we are going to change the narrative! We are students who care about the community and we'll deal with the environmental mess left after this event. If you, like us, hate this reputation that’s forced upon us - then act now and join us!''
A number of local businesses are also supporting this initiative including Hyde Park Book Club and The Library will be providing volunteers tea and coffee on the day of the event. You can volunteer here.
In the run-up to 20 April, they are also raising funds to donate to Woodhouse Community Centre (Oblong) a community-led charity aiming to empower and connect people through many projects and activities including mental health support, cooking sessions, gardening, fitness and education.
