I AM fairly easygoing. I find several coat-hangers together irritating as they always seem to get tangled – but they are useful.

I’m not too thrilled about washing up, but if it doesn’t get done we soon run out of utensils.

Litter, however, makes me see red.

I turn from a calm person into an irrational being, because it is completely unnecessary.

Some litter biodegrades, i.e. paper and cardboard, but it takes months if not years; aluminium cans take decades.

The rest, mostly plastic, i.e. crisp bags, sweet wrappers, drinks bottles, coffee cup lids/straws, nappies (yes, nappies) and glass never breaks down and sits in the environment, our environment, forever. 

Mother Nature does her very best to grow over, under, around and through our mess, making it less obvious, but it will always be there.

As well as looking unsightly, it is unhygienic and a danger to us and to wildlife.

Six dead beached whales starving, but with stomachs full of plastic rubbish should shame us.

We are very fortunate to live in a particularly beautiful part of this wonderful country on a unique planet, but we still deface and damage it with our rubbish. 

It may not be high on the list of crimes, but it is something each and every one of us can do something about to improve all life.

For decades there have been great clean-up campaign groups such as ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ and currently the brilliant initiative, ‘Clean for the Queen’, but really it is up to all of us to take responsibility for the disposal of our own litter and to teach future generations to do likewise.

PAULINE FARNAM 
St. Margaret’s Church 
Bagendon