The Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) shut down Lincoln Drive on Saturday morning for a large-scale litter cleanup from Wissahickon Avenue to Ridge Avenue. It was the fifth year that FOW hosted the event.

FOW is hosting another litter cleanup, this one on Bells Mill Road, on April 18, from 9 a.m. to noon, and is looking for volunteers. All ages and skill levels are invited to come, and supplies and instruction will be provided. Bells Mill will be closed from Lykens Lane to Germantown Avenue beginning at 7 a.m. the day of the cleanup.

They are among several other local litter cleanups planned this month in Northwest Philadelphia.

For the Lincoln Drive effort, “we usually get about 100 people or more, somewhere between 100 and 150,” said FOW Director of Field Stewardship Shawn Green.

Lincoln Drive is one of the most traveled roads in Philadelphia and is near the top of the city’s list in traffic volume. With that comes a significant amount of litter. It also cuts right through the middle of Wissahickon Park, for which the FOW is responsible, according to Green. He said the park receives around two million visitors a year.

“There tends to be a buildup of trash from people throwing stuff out of their car on that road,” Green said. “That road also runs right next to Wissahickon Creek, which is a source of drinking water for residents.”

But being able to walk down Lincoln Drive is one of the standout aspects of the closure in Green’s eyes.

“It’s just an unique experience being able to walk on Lincoln Drive,” he said. “It’s surprisingly beautiful in that section, which you usually don’t see when you’re behind the wheel of a car.

“One year we saw some hawks flying around. There’s a lot of things that you just wouldn’t see otherwise.” he added.

For the Bells Mill cleanup, volunteers will have to park on local streets near the Manatawna and Northwestern Trailheads, but any parking location will require hiking into the meeting location.

The event is a belated celebration of Earth Day and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, postponed by bad weather in January. FOW says that by removing litter along the roadway, the volunteers can prevent trash from washing into the Wissahickon Creek during rainstorms, and help protect habitat and stream health. No experience is needed. Volunteers are advised to wear sturdy footwear and long pants, and to bring water. There should be porta-potties on Forbidden Drive and Bells Mill Road.

FOW also advises that volunteers should expect hiking up to two miles up and down Bells Mill Road.

Confirmation of the meeting location and other information will be sent by email the Friday before the event. Groups of five or more people should reach out to Marisa Miller at miller@fow.org. Register at fow.org/event.

Other Earth Day cleanups and events in Northwest Philadelphia

•Philly Spring Cleanup in Chestnut Hill, April 11, 9 a.m.-noon. Meet at Buckley Park, East Hartwell Lane and Germantown Avenue. Sign up at chestnuthill.org/ch_clean_up_day.php.

•Chestnut Hill Tree Tenders Spring Planting Day, April 18, 9 a.m., Chestnut Hill East Gravers Lane SEPTA station, contact hemphilljch@outlook.com or james@mcnabbstudio.com.

•Earth Day at Awbury Arboretum, April 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. More information at awbury.org/event.

•Friends of the Cresheim Trail Volunteer Work Day, April 19, Time and location TBA. More information at cresheimtrail.org.

•Hike+Heal and Friends of the Wissahickon’s Earth Day Community Connection Hike, April 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Meet at Wayne Avenue Trailhead (West Sedgwick Street and Wayne Avenue). Register at fow.org/event.

•Friends of Pastorius Park Arbor Day, April 24, Time TBA, 8177 Roanoke St. More information at friendsofpastorius.org/events.

•Naturepalooza at The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, April 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 8480 Hagy’s Mill Road. Sign up at schuylkillcenter.org/naturepalooza.