A crystal clear brook – but what lurks within?
The last time I was up the fell, here in Cowley Brook Plantation, I noticed litter starting to appear. Time for a clean up to hopefully stop it becoming a recurring problem.
Hailstones kept me awake all night and this morning there were some hefty showers. So I was in no rush to get out, par for the course at this time of year for me I’m afraid. Living in Longridge, which is elevated from the Preston plain, allows one to look out to the west and see what weather is coming our way for the next hour or so; the best way of weather forecasting. At two o’clock it was all blue sky.
Armed with my plastic bag and ‘litter picker’ I wandered into the trees and up to the highest point. On these remoter paths, all is relative from the road, I found only the odd can and a sweet paper or two. Working my way back down to the popular dog walking circuits, guess what I picked up the most? No prizes for the correct answer – poo bags. Some hidden in the undergrowth, others hanging from a convenient branch. 
Coming back up through the woods by the lively stream there was a rash of orange peel scattered about. 
And then near the gate from the road a disgusting pile of nappies and tissues.
I seem to remember changing my children in the boot of the car, but that was before ‘disposable’ nappies became the norm. The throwaway society has led to ever more landfills, water pollution, ocean degradation and now a worrying apathy to the problem. Recycling will never keep up with the world’s waste. Coming up at the beginning of March is ‘The Big Plastic Count’ which helps you to focus on your own use and points the way to a more sustainable future. It all starts at home so why not sign up at Home | The Big Plastic Count Shame they couldn’t have produced a more polished video.
The nappies safely into the bag, along with a few polystyrene coffee cups from the roadside, I was ready to leave but then spotted…
…laid out near the path. Strange litter, why and by whom?
Job done, home for tea.
.
I do some litter-picking on Moel Famau, and there’s always a load of poo bags. The behaviour of some dog owners is just unfathomable – why bother to bag it, if you’re going to leave it?
Unfathomable as you say. I just try to keep on top of the situation in the areas I pick, the fell is my ‘backgarden’ after all.
Well done on cleaning up for those too lazy to do it themselves. If only more were so conscientious.
Cheers Rob.
Litter picking must be a losing battle.
I think that in small rural areas, as on Longridge Fell,it has a beneficial affect. Doesn’t work very well along our country roads though.
Certainly doesn’t work for the path along the river from Tescos near here
Well done indeed for picking that lot up. I’d be too squeamish to touch the dog bags. As for the nappies, well,… I’ve seen a few of those in the bushes in the heat of summer, and you can imagine . As for your peculiar litter, that probably qualifies as fly tipping. It depresses me I live among people who would do that.
My litter pincers help with the poo bags. Used nappies are on a higher scale.
Not quite as bad s “Strange Fruit” but getting there. Would that you could identify the nappy dumper and dump it back in their garden.
The nappy was the worst find to deal with.
I kept thinking about Billie Holiday’s haunting Strange Fruit as I went around, that’s probably how I came up with my title. I almost gave a link to the song, so here it is now .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bckob0AyKCA&t=27s
Well done. I spend a lot of my time picking up enless litter.
It all helps in the countryside but heaven forbid in urban environments.
Well done. All credit.
Thanks. I just want to keep my recreational areas looking good, Hope it is some sort of OCD.
Thank you for doing your bit in cleaning up our countryside, i just don’t understand why people litter in places they visit in the first place for the scenery, I’ve just been talking about taking a pair of litter pickers with me when i go out, you can get them for free from your local council along with litter bags, it’s not something anyone should have to think about really, the archaeologists of future civilisations will not view us in a good light!
Yes if you are thinking about litter picking then the pincer type pickers are essential, you want to keep most of the detritus at arms length.
Litter is such an issue. I don’t understand how can people think it is normal to throw their garbage in the nature. And poo bags I don’t understand neither, WHY?
Well done for trying to keep your local area clean
Thanks Melodie, we can all do our bit.
We always do a bit of litter picking when we are walking. We don’t go especially for it but if we see bottles, cans we pick them.
That’s good. Dealing with dog poo and other ‘dirty’ litter needs a dedicated attempt to avoid contamination.
I always associated Strange Fruit with Nina Simone. I’m not sure whose was the seminal version, but whatever, one of the most powerful songs on record.
Well done on your litter pick! I need to do this more.
\it only works for me when I set out with litterpicker and bag. At other times on walks I may pick up the odd empty can or crisp packet but I’m not going to start picking up used nappies.