We are indebted to Sharon Cattermole of the Prittle Brook Community Group for her poetic musings on collecting litter as she departs for pastures new.
The Prittle Brook Wombling Song
Undergrowth, overgrowth, rambling Free
The Prittle Brook Community Group are we.
Making good use of the things that we find,
Things that the everyday folks leave behind.
Old shopping trolleys
Remember the time when we found the money outside the school
All those notes on the street
Paid for our tea and cake at Cornerstone Café
We are all organised, work as a team,
We keep the path tidy, and we keep it clean,
Undergrowth, overgrowth, rambling free
The Prittle Brook Community Group are we.
People do notice us, they always see,
As under their noses we may be
As we meet on our monthly task day
Looking for litter to trundle away.
We’re so incredibly, utterly devoted
Making the most of everything
Even metal and tin
Pick up the pieces and send them off to the scrap
Care of my Dad!
Undergrowth, overgrowth, rambling free
The Prittle Brook Community Group are we.
Making good use of the things that we find,
Things that the everyday folks leave behind.
A Litter of Emotion
This bitter sweet occasion
Is flavoured by my time,
Spent with all you volunteers,
Amongst the mess and grime
That’s littered our fond pathway
Between Lourdes and Eastwood Road,
As we scratch around with pickers
While Bill wheel barrows our load.
The weather’s always favourable,
Only once did snow compete
To disrupt one date in 2012,
So much we couldn’t meet.
We mingle, and decry the dog
Whose lot we find en route,
Then set the world to rights again
On our regular commute.
We never get disheartened
By this continual task
When passers-by just shake their heads
But some of them do ask
‘Who are you? Where do you meet?
I may join in one day.’
It’s always so encouraging
To hear what they have to say.
‘Thank you, we believe it helps
Now look at all this poop.
Here’s a list of future dates
If you want to join our group.’
And so it comes with mixed emotion,
As I pass to Meg and Ken
The running of this Merry Band
I do hope we meet again.
