A little over three years ago, several Edwinstowe residents approached Parish and Newark and Sherwood District Councillor, Paul Peacock, about tackling the vast amounts of litter on the road verges approaching the village. While the Parish Council does a fine job keeping the village litter free, Paul agreed that work further afield was needed and liaised with the district council for equipment and collection of filled rubbish bags.
Since January 2021 volunteers have removed a huge variety of items which could have been disposed of properly, or some taken to a charity shop. Litter is dangerous to our local wildlife; the first pick this year discovered two field mice dead because they were stuck inside a glass bottle.
The pickers also pick local field and river footpaths, discovering all types of rubbish, including numerous used dog poo bags, some of which can take hundreds of years to degrade and pollute local water sources and rivers. Dog bins are situated at various points around the village, if one not available on your walk please take the bag home to dispose of.
Volunteers have regularly found large dog food bags filled with what appears to be excrement in a ditch between Ollerton Road and the Thoresby Vale site. A team from Newark and Sherwood District Council has to collect this, all at a cost.
Volunteers currently pick on the second Monday and the last Saturday in the month at 10.00am, and on occasional evenings in the summer, for approximately two hours. Over three years they have filled hundreds of bags with rubbish.
Local residents have commented on the difference made, some joining Edwinstowe Litter Picking Patrol (ELPP) as a result. Councillor Paul quite often joins in. The work is very rewarding, making a tangible difference to the surroundings – but it would be great if litter picking weren’t necessary.
More volunteers are always welcome; see picking dates and times on Edwinstowe Together and Edwinstowe Past and Present Facebook pages, or contact Councillor Paul Peacock on 07956 370984. Equipment will be provided.