ALL over Britain people came together over March 4, 5 and 6 to give their local area a good clean up, encouraged by the “Clean for the Queen Campaign”. One of these was Sandford.

“When the Queen came to the throne more than 60 years ago, litter was not the problem it is today.

“Food packaging, plastic bottles, takeaway meals and cigarette butts have all contributed to a growing menace that affects our wildlife, streets, countryside and sense of pride,” says the “Clean for the Queen” website.

It is all part of hoping to get Britain looking cleaner in time for the Queen’s 90th birthday which will be officially celebrated in June. Her “real” birthday is on April 21.

Everyone across the country was challenged to do their bit at any time but especially over the Clean for the Queen weekend of March 4, 5 and 6.

One person who is really doing their bit is Wayne Dixon with Koda, a Northern Inuit dog, who left Lancashire on February 1 to walk the coast path, litter picking as he goes, to raise money for mental health charity Mind and the Northern Inuit Dog Rescue.

He said he had seen litter in beautiful places while walking the coast path near his home. He also hopes to encourage people to think before dropping litter.

For the litter pickers around the country, a number of Costa and Waitrose outlets were giving away free bags for collecting litter, both of whom contributed to the Sandford collection on Saturday. Other companies donated gloves, tabards, mechanical pickers (those grabbers on a stick) and other equipment.

At Sandford, the clean up was organised by Sandford Parish Council. Among those who helped collect was Cllr John Daw, chairman Mid Devon District Council and Cllr Judi Binks, one of the two district councillors for the area.

Each person was given an area and when they had cleared that, it was back to the Congregational Church Hall to deposit their bags of litter and for a cuppa and cake.

Parish council chairman, Shuana Waller was there to welcome the six teams who filled 12 big bin bags with rubbish. The bags will be collected by Mid Devon District Council.

Thanks go to the Congregational Church ladies, Mandy and Marion, for doing the refreshments served in the church hall.

Over June 11 and 12, Sandford will be celebrating with a Family Village Treasure Hunt, an Edwardian Street Market, celebration service in the parish church and a bring and share lunch at the parish hall.

But before then a quiz is to be held on Friday, April 8 to help raise funds for the celebrations. The quiz will be at the parish hall from 7pm for 7.30pm start. Teams of four to six can enter.

They are keeping the tabards, the mechanical litter pickers and spare sacks for clearing up after the Royal Street Market and for future Sandford litter picks.

Sue Read