Slipping on banana skins...

Aren't compost bins amazing? You throw in your used tea leaves, fruit and vegetable peelings, garden greenery, the odd piece of cardboard or some shredded paper and then the small red worms get to work and in a few months you have this wonderful, dark brown compost to spread on your garden. It is a small miracle. So, you might think that all these things would be just as beneficial left about in the countryside, but....

Tossed under the hedge or dropped by the side of the path, banana skins can take about 3 to 4 weeks to decompose, paper bags and paper tissues a month or more and orange peel up to six months. It is quite surprising.

On a lovely walk I joined earlier this year, our leader took us to a wonderful coffee stop on the side of the valley. There was even a bench and a grassy slope to sit on. Everyone enjoyed the break but, as we prepared to leave, several people threw their fruit skins and tissues onto the grass under the bushes. I am sure they thought they were doing the right thing, but the bright colours drew the eye instantly. I wish I'd had the courage to speak up and have wondered since how many other walkers grimaced at our 'litter' before it disappeared completely. Do you think they enjoyed the picnic site as much as we had done?

So, may I make a plea that we all take every scrap of 'litter' back home with us and leave the landscape uncluttered by our debris? Sadly there are plenty of people who do not respect our beautiful countryside, but let us do our best to keep it tidy. PLEASE!

June Henville