LETTER: Lack of litter a pleasant surprise
A reader reveals their surprise at the lack of litter at their local nature reserve.
Photos of piles of litter on Clapham Common and on the beach at Bournemouth at the end of ‘Hibernation’; headlines such as ‘Let's throw everything at the litter problem’ made me think of the Smestow Valley Local Nature Reserve. Is that full of rubbish too?
Hundreds of people from across Wolverhampton and the Black Country have been visiting the LNR by bike and bus to enjoy the flowers, green spaces and fresh air. Yet - there is very little litter.
Volunteers from Finchfield WatersideCare meet once a month to keep the Brook and its banks clear of invasive plants and to pick up litter. Because of lockdown we hadn’t been out for four months so last Thursday we were prepared for the worst. What a delightful surprise. The paths were clear and we really had to work hard to fill our litter bags.
The Park Rangers organised mass clean-ups last autumn and winter. Volunteers, old and young, joined them to clean the Nature Reserve between Compton and Castlecroft of rubbish left during ten years of neglect.
It is well known that when there is no litter people are less likely to drop any. When there is only a small amount it feels worthwhile picking it up and dropping it in the bin. As a volunteer with WatersideCare I say thank you to the Wombles of Wolverhampton. I’m sure the birds and the animals appreciate a litter-free reserve too.
John Rowley, Castlecroft
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