GRAYSHOTT Society has been cleaning up the village in a ‘community litter pick’ initiative, organised by East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) as part of the Clean for the Queen national campaign.

Clean for the Queen was launched to help celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. The society organised two litter picking sessions last Friday and Saturday, and four committee members were joined by council representatives and street cleansing contractor, the Landscape Group, on the Millennium Green.

Grayshott Society vice-chairman Phil Bates said: “We were pleased to get involved in the ’Clean for the Queen‘ initiative and although at the start of our litter pick we were caught in a mini-blizzard, we found the occasion a rewarding enjoyable one and overall pleased the central areas of the village are in most parts litter free.

“This we believe is down to a number of village residents and businesses who pick up litter when they see it on a regular basis, which isreally great and to be encouraged, so a big thank you to them all.

“One downside is the amount of cigarette butts that are disposed of, particularly near some residential properties, not just the odd ones but piles of them. It’s a real shame there}s not more thought and care taken by some smokers over discarding their butts, but I guess whoever the smokers are they do not consider this to be litter, which is a great pity.”

More than 20 communities in East Hampshire got a spring clean last weekend as volunteers got behind the Clean for the Queen campaign.

District councillor Julie Butler said: “What a fantastic response residents have given to the Clean for the Queen campaign. It’s great to see so many different parts of the district signing up to the scheme so whole-heartedly.

“We all want to see East Hampshire clean and clear of litter. EHDC spends more than £300,000 a year litter-picking the worst affected areas but we must all work together if we are going to keep the district looking its best.”

The council will recognise the contribution made to the national initiative by arranging a “thank you” event, hosted by its Conservative leader Ferris Cowper, later in the year.