Litter pickers clear up Portsmouth area

Residents picked up litter in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Havant as part of the Great British Spring Clean.

Sun shone on litter-pickers on Saturday, with more than 60 people at Portchester’s foreshore.

People of all ages gathered near Alton Grove to clear up a section of the shoreline, plagued by all different kinds of rubbish.

They managed to collect 30 bags of rubbish, and found pieces of metal, a chandelier, and one black high-heeled boot, among other items.

Paul Woodman, 70, co-ordinated the event as part of the Portchester Civic Society with the Marine Conservation Society.

He said: ‘We found a lot of rubbish but had a very successful day in clearing it up.

‘There seemed to be more glass and metal than plastic, but there was a fair bit of that too.

‘One of the litter pickers from the 3rd Portchester Scouts, seven-year-old Marie, found a Lego man and an anchor.

‘Some items wash up with the tide, but generally people just dump and drop stuff, it’s such a shame.

‘Fareham Borough Council provided us with rubbish bags and litter pickers and they will collect the rubbish from us. We’ve got some of our own gear as well.

‘It was a fantastic community effort as part of the Great British Spring Clean 2017.’

Portchester resident Beth Rogers added: ‘It’s important to keep the beach free of rubbish.

‘We hear a lot on the news about plastic getting into fish and whales and so on, so any little bit we can do to stop that happening is great.

‘It’s incredible, when you start looking for rubbish you realise just how much there actually is lying around.’

Andy Sharp, a 50-year-old marine conservation sea champion attended the clean up with his wife Maryam. The couple came from Guildford to take part.

He said: ‘Clean-ups like this raise awareness of that problem. It’s not something we’re going to deal with in just one beach clean, but it’s good to still educate people and do a little bit to help.’

Yesterday, some braved the hail at a clean-up at Walpole Park in Gosport, organised by Jeanette Perry.

The 59-year-old, of St Luke’s Road, said: ‘It’s nice that people did go.

‘I just think they’re brilliant to spend that time and carry on the campaign for us to encourage people to clear up.

‘It’s great of them to have done that.’

Another litter-pick was due to take place in Holbrook yesterday and many attended one in Stokes Bay on Saturday.

Brave residents of Knowle also picked up plenty of rubbish yesterday.

Pupils at Woodcot Primary School, in Tukes Avenue, Gosport, took part in the clean-up on Friday.

Librarian Lesley ward said: ‘Armed with litter pickers and bags supplied by Gosport council, the children with a great deal of enthusiasm went around the local area outside the school and in just over an hour filled 10 bags of rubbish!

‘The children loved taking part and doing their bit for their community, in fact so much so that when we got back to the school they asked if we had some more bags to go and collect some more rubbish.’

April Williams, a Year 4 pupil, said: ‘It was very sad to see so much litter, and there was glass in the play area for children. It was dangerous.’