What a great turn out to the Christmas Litter Pick at King John’s Walk Eltham today!
Thank you to everyone that came along in spite of the chilly weather. It was a very productive afternoon with around twenty bags of litter collected plus lots of larger items, including several hay nets which would have posed a massive hazard to wildlife, and countless vape pens with lithium batteries that slowly leech chemicals into the environment over time.
We also offered a prize for the weirdest piece of litter found, which was awarded to Abbie for a brass teapot.
Our charity founder, Rae Gellel, said of the day;
"Once a year, the Greenwich Wildlife Network organises a big community litter pick.
These litter picks not only make the borough a more pleasant place for local people to live, they’re also about reducing the number of animals that become injured or unwell as a result of entanglement or ingestion of litter. On average, the charity receives a call about wildlife harmed in this way at least once per week.
Whether it’s pigeons hobbled by string embedded in their feet, waterbirds entangled in fishing line, foxes with jars stuck on their heads, or un-biodegradable plastics leaching chemicals into our lakes and streams, human waste wreaks havoc on animals and the habitats they live in.
By coming together as a community, we can undo a little of this damage. If we can prevent even one animal being harmed by litter, then the day is a success.
So a huge, huge thank you to all of the wonderful volunteers that sacrificed their time to transform a little patch of our community."