Keeping on top of Barwick & Stoford’s Litter Mountain!
During the past 12 months Barwick & Stoford Litter Pick Group has collected more than 30 black sacks full of litter! Many bottles, cans, much plastic packaging and even discarded face masks have been retrieved from hedges, pavements and open spaces.
A few volunteers work individually and in groups to combat the daily litter drop in our community. If we have more volunteers, each looking after the road they live in, then this constant problem can be managed.
So why worry about having a litter free community?
- A cleaner environment in which to live
- A safe place for children, domestic pets and wildlife
- An attractive and desirable village scene and open spaces
- Enhanced property and land values
Have you a spare 30 minutes r so a month to volunteer? If so you’ll be provided with full litter pick kit and guidance.
For more information please contact Barwick & Stoford Litter Pick Group – email simonthompson62@outlook.com or phone/text 07484 302766
May 2022
The Parish Council would like to say a big thank you to the team of litter pickers who not only participated in the “ Great British Spring Clean 2022” a few weeks ago but who also participate in this rather unglamorous and thankless task on regular basis. Especial thanks go to Simon Thompson, who has done a wonderful job of organising the team, doing risk assessments, petitioning for grant funding for equipment and lobbying the Parish Council for more litter bins around the village where we all live, it would be great if residents and visitors to our village either used them or took their litter home. Simon frequently reports instances of fly tipping around the village when the team comes across them but anyone can report fly tipping here: https://www.southsomerset.gov.uk/services/environmental-health/nuisances/report-fly-tipping/
The regular team comprises Yves Dawes, Toni Dumbrill, Heather Heron, Nora Hutson, Brenda Langworthy, Simon himself and others. If you want to get involved then watch out on Facebook and this website for dates of “big” picks or contact Barwick & Stoford Litter Pick Group – email simonthompson62@outlook.com or phone/text 07484 302766.
THANK YOU TEAM
Review from Litter Pick Group for Barwick & Stoford Parish Council April 2022
The “Great British Spring Clean 2022” (GBSC) campaign reported over 400,000 bags of litter being collected from 26 March – 9 April. This included 8 bags collected in Barwick and Stoford by local volunteers over that period. During the past 12 months, village Litter Picks have collected more than 30 bags.
The Litter Pick Group plans to meet again on Saturday 7th May. The number of known casual volunteers has risen to 11, however three were affected by Covid infection and were unable to take part in GBSC.
The usual litter hotspots remain and require regular attention:-
– Fairhouse Road, Higher Bullen (Bus Stop), Hoopers Lane, Mill Lane, Newton Road, South View, Two Tower Lane
– Litter in Fairhouse Road adjacent to Layby remains high requiring 2-3 collections a week.
– Whitcross Rec. (apart from Graffiti attack) has improved both in terms of litter and DP. Some evidence of old litter in Eastern hedgerow.
– Footpaths, ditches and watercourses – still work to be done access to ditches is tricky.
– March/April – fly tipping reported by the group to SSDC – bags of domestic waste; builders waste; car exhaust system.
In 2021 Abri Housing agreed to grant aid Litter Pick equipment etc. As part of the grant conditions a survey of participants – parish councillors, volunteers and a sample of residents will be carried out during May/June. The survey will measure progress in terms of litter reduction, financial savings (£ in; £ out), future resilience planning, health & wellbeing of active participants and beneficiaries.
S.Thompson 19.4.22