News: Litter Pick 2026
A well-supported litter pick covered two main routes into Chilbolton today: Martins Lane and Coley Lane.
Two squads were deployed, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Two million pieces of litter are dropped in the UK every day, with 90% of the country affected by it. Although litter levels are associated with population density, rural areas are also affected and Chilbolton has it fair share.
Held as part of the Great British Spring Clean, the litter pick was organised jointly by the Parish Council and Cherish Chilbolton.
The morning squad ranged over the length of Martins Lane, from top to bottom, and part of the A30, including the lay-by. They were: Pat St Leger-Harris, Trish Heaton, Fiona Gillespie, Shirley and Nigel Phillips, Nicola and Duncan Revolta, Jane O’Boyle, Patrick Coates, Cllr David Griffiths and Peter Collis.
Getting suited and booted on a chilly day, the morning squad
Busy pickers and their support vehicles
Shirley retrieves yet another can of Stella
The result of a morning’s work
The afternoon squad assembled in West Down car park, ready to rove over West Down and Coley Lane. They were: Catherine Watson, Philip Baker, Peter Collis, Maureen and Ed Treadwell, Jane O’Boyle, David Griffiths, Jill Parr, Sue Curtis, Amanda Spice and Clayton Williams.
Tools of the trade being handed out
Everybody ready to go on the afternoon squad
Rather wetter than the morning session
The day’s haul included a wide variety of rubbish. Some had been thoughtlessly tossed away, including beer cans and a bottle of gin (all empty).
Some items had been intentionally tipped: wire, plastic tubing and a bag full of video tapes.
The oddest find was an unopened tub of bicarbonate of soda, still well within its use-by date, resting at head height in a hedge.
One of the organisers, Jane O’Boyle, said “Litter is a ‘quality of life’ issue, particularly in our rural lanes. A plastic bottle, thrown from a vehicle becomes a blot on the landscape. Today is one step towards erasing those blots. Thank you to everyone who generously gave their time today.”
She added “We must remember though that many villagers collect litter as they walk around, and some go on regular litter picking walks. They are the unsung heroes, keeping Chilbolton tidy, year-round.”