A partnership scheme involving local authorities, the police, fire service and the DVLA. This operation aims to co ordinate the quick and efficient removal of abandoned and untaxed vehicles from streets and other areas. Operation Cubit encourages voluntary re-licensing and discourages vehicle abandonment. It has succeeded in disrupting criminal activity and reducing incidents of vehicle arson and has improved the quality of life for residents who had previously been blighted by abandoned vehicles. For general information on Operation Cubit contact the Home Office on 0870 000 1585 or visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/antisocial1.html to access the online evaluation report.

Groundwork is a federation of nearly fifty Trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, each working with their partners to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the success of local businesses in areas in need of investment and support. It is part funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and supported by corporate, local and European funding. Every year Groundwork Trusts deliver thousands of projects in neighbourhoods that are blighted by a variety of social or economic problems. These projects aim to create opportunities for people to learn new skills and to take local action. They also aim to help businesses and individuals fulfil their potential. There are many opportunities for volunteers in Groundwork Trusts or they may be able to support a local project including regenerating parks and gardens.
For more information visit www.groundwork.org.uk or telephone 0121 236 8565

The Civic Trust Regeneration Unit inspires and promotes improvements in the quality of urban life for everyone throughout the UK. It is devoted to enhancing the quality of life in Britain's cities, towns and villages: the places where people live, work, shop and relax. It creates and develops partnerships between government, business and communities to help deliver improved local environments. It also sets high standards of design and sustainability and recognises and rewards the very best through the annual Civic Trust Awards and the Green Flag and Green Pennant Awards schemes. For more information or for publications or details of membership visit www.civictrust.org.uk/ctru/ctru.shtml or telephone 020 7170 4299 The Green Flag Award scheme represents the national standard for parks and green spaces across England and Wales, and is managed by the Civic Trust on behalf of CABE Space.

For details of the award scheme visit www.greenflagaward.org.uk or telephone 0151 709 1969

Organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), Britain in Bloom has grown into the largest horticultural campaign in Europe. Every year, hundreds of communities are involved, from tiny rural villages to the largest cities, all bringing a great deal of horticultural skill and huge enthusiasm to one common aim: to regenerate local
environments, both locally and nationally, by the imaginative planting of trees and shrubs, flowers and landscaping and by dealing with local environmental issues, such as litter, graffiti and vandalism.

For advice on how to enter the Britain in Bloom competition and for more details of the campaign visit www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom/index.asp or for access to the wide range of services and advice from the RHS visit www.rhs.org.uk or telephone 020 7834 4333

Run by the Association of London Government (on behalf of all London Boroughs) and the Home Office, Operation Scrap-It is a campaign to rid London's streets of untaxed and abandoned vehicles. This programme aims to improve Londoners' quality of life by ending the environmental blight caused by nuisance vehicles, by taking away unwanted cars for free and disposing of them safely. If you would like more information on abandoned vehicles in London telephone 020 7747 4822 or visit www.alg.gov.uk/scrap-it/index.htm