By Scarlet Drayson
The members of Margate Women’s Institute are calling for residents to play their part in protecting the environment by taking their litter home.
The request comes following their most recent litter picking session on Sunday 6 August, where ten members took just two hours to fill 16 bin bags with rubbish in Tivoli Play Area.
The members were shocked by the amount of discarded waste on the steps leading to Sanger Close as well as the area under the railway bridge and were saddened to find sharp shredded drinks cans on the mini football pitch.
Mandy Jarvis, a member of Margate WI’s committee, who organises the sessions, said: “This area is meant to be for children and yet we were dismayed by what we found. So much rubbish and a lot of it could potentially cause injuries. The steps took almost an hour by some of the members who focused on trying to clear the worst of it, there was a lot of broken glass as well as discarded electrical goods, bagged dog mess, and nitrous oxide canisters.”
Determined to do what they can, Margate WI has vowed to return to the area again in October to put more time into Tivoli.
Mandy added: “This has been by far the worst area we have seen, and we have only covered a small percentage of the green spaces in Tivoli. It is sad to see and we ask that people consider playing their part in keeping Margate tidy. Put your rubbish in a bin and if you can’t find one or the bin is full, then please take your litter home. Our town and our children deserve better.”
Margate WI has been volunteering to clear litter from areas in Margate since May 2023.
Inspired by a resolution originally made by the Women’s Institute nearly 70 years ago, the local group held their first organised litter pick in Dane Park on Bank Holiday Monday (8 May 2023).
The original resolution by the National Federation of Women’s Institutes in 1954 called for a campaign to ‘preserve the countryside against desecration by litter’ and led to the formation of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign, now an independent charity, which is so well known today.
After seeing a photo of the original members from that campaign, Margate WI wanted to pay tribute to the good work those ladies started all those years ago.
Residents who are interested in getting involved will be able to join Margate WI for their September litter pick.
They will be teaming up with the Palm Bay and Northdown Community Group to tidy up The Ridings, between Palm Bay and Botany Bay. The event, which is open to all, will start at 2.30pm on Sunday 3 September.
Those interested should bring gloves, sunblock and water, as well as a mug for tea afterwards. Volunteers will be meeting on the green in Palm Bay Avenue, at the edge of The Ridings.
