Litter picking in the community

A busy weekend, managed to get out everyday. The blog is all about community action, firstly by spreading awareness of Prostate Cancer to as many people as possible. Secondly, helping with the ongoing task of clearing our roadsides of litter. This weekend brought both together as I joined a group clearing a path beside the railway line at Ormskirk Station. Merseytravel do regular collections there but they always appreciate a bit of help. We found the ubiquitous supermarket trolley and bags full of rubbish including the one I filled. I spoke to David about the Clean up Prostate Cancer project and was glad to hear he’d had a PSA done recently and been given the all clear.

Friday and Sunday I was back out on Northway, the A59, a major route through Lancashire. Picked up 4 bags there and brought the weekend tally of leaflets handed out to 9. One of the people who stopped to talk to me was Pat, she was very keen to learn about the project and took leaflets for her husband and  sons. Already owning a litter picker she felt inspired enough,  by my litter picking activities, to plan to do the same around the area where she lived including a nearby park. As Pat said, if we all went out and just looked after our own patch the problem would disappear. Good stuff, Pat. Of course, it would be far better if everyone took care to dispose of their rubbish properly then we could simply enjoy the view as we walked.

Unusually, for the vast majority of the areas I collect in there was a real issue with bags of dog poo on the stretch of road between Winifred Lane and St Michael Rd. This used to be a problem in many places locally a number of years ago but the local council found the simplest of solutions. In the worst areas they spray painted dog silouhettes on pavements with the logo “Bag it and bin it”. It was so effective! I’ve been in touch and suggested they repeat the exercise at this location. I estimate I collected more that 30 bags over the weekend and the trump was returning to the bags I’d collected on Friday to discover someone had left 2 dog poo bags on the grass beside them. You can see them on the photo. Grrr. I suppose it could have been worse they would probably have thrown them in the hedge as usual if my bags hadn’t been there! 

There's always an up side and I imagine someone is really missing this little chap.