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Monday 5 April 2021

Wombling

 I noticed that there is more litter than ever around since covid began. Mainly because so many people who don't usually walk the local footpaths are now doing so as they have nowhere else to go. Particularly it is annoying to see the face masks and plastic gloves everywhere as they are so dangerous to wildlife. Anyway 2 weeks ago my litter picker stick was delivered from Amazon and I started clearing up on my daily walks using old carrier bags and taking it home to put in the bin shed. One day a couple with a dog came along and after thanking me asked if I was a womble. I knew there are groups litter picking who call themselves wombles but didn't know there were any around my area. When I got home I did a search on Facebook and found the local group who are actually subdivided into even more local groups. 

I joined then read the announcements and found I could get official bin bags from one of the co-ordinators. Also I could register on-line as a volunteer with the local council which I did. Then I received my registration number so when I have filled a bag, I don't have to lug it home but can leave it by a bin then report it to the council website. If we find any large pieces of rubbish dumped like a trolley or a mattress that can also be reported as can overflowing bins. It is very satisfying to see the area is so much tidier. My friend is waiting for her litter picker then she is joining me. 

Most people are very pleasant and tell me well done and thank you but others seem embarassed and avoid eye contact. Some of us wonder if they think we are criminals doing community service as pay-back. As I am a grey haired old lady they might wonder what anti social behaviour I performed. Then again I think they wear hi-vis jackets advertising what they are doing and I would have thought they would be supervised. 

A sad picture was posted on the group site of a poor little hedgehog with his head wedged in a pringles carton. Sadly it did not survive. Hedgehogs are declining due to lots of problems without litter adding to it. I come home tired and satisfied. 

9 comments:

  1. I'm going to look at our local pages on Facebook, sounds a really good scheme, we help out with local beach cleans if the weather is dry on the day.

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    1. Beach cleaning sounds good. I'm near the river.

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  2. That is an inspiring post. Well done. The scenes of litter being left behind in our parks and green areas is very depressing. I cannot understand the scale of it and wonder if these people would visit the parks if we just left them looking like a rubbish tip.

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    1. Thank you. It feels good to do something about the mess.

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  4. You are doing something that is definitely needed. We have a few people here that do the same thing. I might have to invest in a litter pick and give them a hand.

    God bless.

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  5. Well done but I must admit it saddens me that there is so much litter. It takes such little effort to take it home.

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  6. Yes they complain there are not enough bins but they brought the stuff with them so surely not difficult to take it away.

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