More the merrier

Delighted to hear from Conor who has busy again on the verges of West Lancashire. He collected these 3 bulging bags yesterday. Good stuff. I met Conor by pure chance last year, he was out running along a section of road where I was doing a collection, he stopped to give me a hand which actually made me feel a bit emotional. I can be a bit of a softy at times. Chatting, he explained he quite often picked up a carrier bag of rubbish in the area around his home.

Since we met, I have received a message and a photo from Conor recording his litter collecting activities every month. That is the point I would like to emphasis. To make a difference it doesn’t take a huge amount of time or a massive effort. It has become abundantly clear to me the whole business of keeping the tide of unsightly and polluting litter at bay is collect repeat, collect repeat, collect repeat. The more of us who are doing it the greater the impact. It can be demoralising to have to keep going back but looking over ground you have cleared makes it all worthwhile for me. There is also a theory that cleaning up an area reduces littering, I’ll need some convincing on that one.

Looking back, one of the abiding images of the industrial North are the rows and rows of terraced houses. Linked very closely in my own mind are personal memories of women kneeling on the pavement scrubbing the step or wielding brooms sweeping the pavement outside their homes. I’m sure there are people who still continue this tradition. Of course, we have insulation, central heating, internet and constant hot water these days but sometimes strands of the past are worth hanging on to. Among them, I would suggest, is taking care of the World around you. (I know selective memory – belching chimneys and toxic working conditions etc but ...).

You may already be a litter picker but if you haven't considered getting involved it is so very satisfying and your really are making a difference. It doesn't have to be part of any scheme or group, please, just do your own thing.