With the sun shining, I have made a couple recent trips to B&Q and living so close, I’m fortunate to be able to walk but it’s not been a nice experience.
I was shocked and disappointed to see the state of the two paths from my house to B&Q with the high amount of litter in one small area!
My five year old daughter Lottie also noticed it, expressing concern for the well-being of ‘mini-beasts’, this being her current school topic.
So we decided to do some litter picking!
I rang Street Scene at Eastleigh Borough Council and they lent us a couple litter pickers for the weekend, which we collected and returned to their local depot unit in Boyatt Wood, with the bin bags they gave us.
Filling 5 big bags in short distance
I laughed when they offered me a big wad of bin bags, having thought we only needed a couple, I took a few more – just in case!
So my daughter and I, and husband who joined us later, cracked on managing to fill five full bags over only a 100 metre stretch.
Interestingly our litter picking included a nice pair of trainers, badminton racket, ball pump, over 25 glass bottles and a Dyson hoover cylinder!
Having taken much pride in our work, I have since walked down the pathways only to be disappointed by the returning litter.
These paths have a high amount of traffic and are close to Boyatt Wood shops, a secondary school, B&Q and industrial estates, but I noticed there are no litter bins, similar to that further up the paths in Boyatt Wood.
I have written to the council and I’m hopeful some bins will be put in place.
Invisible litter?
It’s amazing though, once you start noticing the litter, how really obvious it becomes and just how much there is around.
Walking into Eastleigh with a friend – through Selbourne Drive, Beaulieu Road and over the railway bridge we saw the ground to be covered.
I couldn’t help but wonder if other people notice it too, or if when things become the norm, it’s easier just to accept the situation for what it is? It almost becomes invisible; or does the task just feel too big?
Are we lacking community spirit?
How many times do we all have similar thoughts regarding issues that indirectly affect us?
Is it because its impact on our day to day life isn’t strong enough to motivate us to make a change, to admit an element of responsibility or to just say “I can do a bit”, “I can help”?
I can’t help but wonder what is driving those attitudes. Lack of knowledge; lack of an easier/better alternative?
Are we all so busy to make a small difference or are we lacking community spirit?
Or is it the lack of a public litter bin when you need it? Who knows?
I do know that Boyatt Wood is a lovely place to live, but I fear the amount of litter gives the impression that it’s a dumping ground and that no one cares.
Fortunately I know that is not true.
Hi Jodie,
Thank you for sharing your litter picking experience with us. I found your post on Streetlife and I was so impressed.
Last time in Winchester, I met Terry, the unusual Litter Picker. Now in Boyatt Wood, you and Lottie are doing your bit. Our community is more beautiful because of people like you, who took the initiative to improve our environment.
Thanks again for sharing.
Litter begets litter. If a place is cleaned up, people are less likely to drop litter.
Unfortunately some people will drop litter wherever they are. Some never litter. Most will sometimes litter but can be dissuaded especially if there are litter bins around.
Well done with your efforts.
I also read about social conformity. I think the ‘litter begets litter’ social mentality applies to the same mentality we face with the dog fouling problem in some parts of Chandler’s Ford.
I wrote about Dog Fouling High Priority Zone in Chandler’s Ford.