Winchester Litterpickers celebrate 30 years
Winchester Litterpickers are celebrating 30 years of local volunteer litter picks this year. Multiple picks now take place each week and they estimate that around 1,000 sacks of litter are collected every year.
Chair of the group Eddie lives in Alresford Road and first joined in 1996, the year after it was founded. He said: “I signed up initially as the two founders of the group came into the school where I was headteacher and sang a litter picking song to the children. It started with a handful of people and quickly grew; we now have around 70 volunteers in total. It’s such a welcoming and friendly group, and we’re getting out in the fresh air too.
“The city council helps us by supplying grabbers and we’re in contact with other teams about items we might come across.”
Elaine, one of the pick leaders, has been involved for over 15 years. She said: “Picking can be a very therapeutic thing to do and it’s good to feel you’re making a bit of a difference. We also collect the aluminium cans separately to support the HIOWAA.”
The Weeke group heads to local independent business Café Bartella Winchester, run by husband and wife team Sukru and Aysa, after picks.
Chris, who lives in Harestock and has been picking with the group since 2018, adds: “It’s giving something back, isn’t it. And the coffee afterwards is a wonderful bonus.”
Volunteer Ursula agrees: “It’s a lovely group, with lots of interesting, different views and backgrounds. There are a small amount of people who drop litter, and a larger group of people who want places to look nice, and it’s an easy quick positive change you can make to somewhere when you take that litter away.”
Kevin lives in Bereweeke Avenue. He said: “I hate litter and now that I am retired I have the time to be able to volunteer. I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to join us and give it a go. You’ll pick it up as you go along – I may have stolen that joke from Eddie!”
The Keep Britain Tidy Great British Spring Clean takes place from 21 March until 6 April 2025.