Isn’t it just typical – the morning chosen for the village litter pick, organised by the Sustainability Group and supported by the Eco-Church, was one of the few rainy ones we have had recently. However, it was a lot better than the very first similar event ten years ago when a dozen stalwart Scaynes Hillians rallied in gale force winds and pouring rain. This time the rain was much less intense and thankfully there was no wind as trying to hold a bag open to drop in bits of rubbish in windy conditions is quite a challenge. Despite the inauspicious weather 20 volunteering participants, including 2 children, turned up to join in the action.
The village area including stretches of the A272 in both directions and parts of Costells Wood was divided up into a number of sections, each of which was tackled by a pair of volunteers equipped with hi-viz jackets, litter pickers and bags kindly supplied by Mid Sussex District Council. It was not a competition but those who took on the challenge of the verges along the A272 certainly had the biggest haul of rubbish. Steve Elliot, our champion litter picker who regularly gathers and exhibits the rubbish collected on the way to the cricket field, probably achieved the greatest volume, while those who went in the other direction down Anchor Hill collected the heaviest load as their bags had to be left to be picked up at the end of the morning by one of the team who had brought a trailer.
Volunteers were rewarded by hot refreshments in the Church Annexe, funded by Lindfield Rural Parish Council who had kindly made a donation to cover the cost of the food. There was soup, bread, hot dogs and cakes as well as tea and coffee, lovingly prepared and served by the Church team in a very welcoming atmosphere. A big thank you to all who took part to make this a very successful community event.