‘Stick Up For Your Environment’ event held at Leadenham Village Hall Wednesday 27th March organised by the Leadenham Litter Picking Team (supported by Leadenham Parish Council) and Leadenham Primary School, this event proved a resounding success.
Photo by Paul Sproxton Fly Tipping
Representatives from North Kesteven District Council and local press attended alongside other local parish councils and local residents.
23 large black plastic bags full of litter collected in Leadenham, during March, were on display, alongside a huge amount of fly tipped objects, all retrieved from our verges and hedges.
Given that the Litter Picking Group collect on a monthly basis, that is ‘a lot of litter for one month’.
The stars of the event, however, were the pupils from Leadenham Primary School who had produced over 30 posters reflecting their views on discarded litter. They took part in a staged ‘litter pick’ on the Playing Field, working in pairs, using ‘pick up sticks’ loaned by NKDC and managed to gather around ten bags full. The School is very keen to promote environmental and eco issues and pupils are very keen to be involved.
Pupils from Leadenham Primary School
Information Boards reflected the areas of the parish where litter and rubbish are most prevalent and the serious consequences to wildlife from discarded plastic litter, the latter being supported by Kesteven Wildlife Watch.
An Information /Ideas Board was well used by people attending as it gave the opportunity to put forward their own comments and views.
Why did we stage the event?
In the hope that people would become aware of just how serious the problem litter has become in our community, especially plastic.
Leadenham sits at the cross roads of two main A roads (A607 and A17) The slip roads allowing traffic access from one road to the other are the main litter/fly tipping areas. Traffic passing through and those who stop for a break in the one official (and two unofficial) laybys appear to be the main culprits. Bottles of urine and wet wipes used for similar toilet purposes are common items retrieved, as well as used condoms.
We a have a fly tipped item which consists of a huge cardboard roll of printed wrappers for a Kebab Shop or similar – no longer required - so chuck it in the dyke in a rural area. A few worn tyres need clearing out – chuck them off the van while you’re out in a rural area – nobody will see. That’s the mind - set we are up against.
Leadenham Primary School Litter Picking - Credit: Paul Sproxton
If our Event can raise awareness as to the seriousness of the litter/plastic problem in our society, time will not have been wasted in staging the Event. If we can inspire other parishes to start their own litter picking group, time will not have been wasted. If the young have been made aware of the seriousness of the litter problem, then time has not been wasted.
Photo by Paul Sproxton Fly Tipping Brauncewell Road
Our Litter Picking Volunteer Group was formed 16 months ago, supported with equipment by the Parish Council, and they have worked relentlessly each month in their collecting.
We cannot thank them enough.
Hilary Proctor (Clerk to Leadenham Parish Council)