We just returned from a lovely weekend away in the picturesque town
of Henley on Thames. It was great to enjoy a riverside walk, a spot of
window shopping (and perhaps a bit of actual buying as well!), and an
evening out with friends at a country pub.
However, despite the
beautiful views and rather posh prices, litter was never far from my
mind – or the pavement. It was sad to see the amount of rubbish just
left near the river – someone else’s responsibility to pick up? Or to be driving down a country lane marred by a Red Bull can, Lucozade bottle, or bag of McDonald’s. Often all three.
As an American in the UK, I often found myself thinking “This is so
quintessentially English!” when catching sight of a timber-framed
building or burst of colourful window boxes this weekend. Do we really
want litter and a lack of care to become synonymous with the country as
well?
This is what visitors want to see …
… not this.
