When I left for NZ back in the 1990's, GB was still just about a land of Public Information Films, which occasionally reminded us to Shut the Country Gate, or Keep Britain Tidy, or Take Your Litter Home with you if you can't find a proper litter bin, or any number of things about the Coastguard [MCA] or crossing the road, learning to swim, or doing the right thing to save someone's life, etc... That's all gone. Back in Blighty, when I flirted with becoming a teacher I did blocks of work in primary and secondary schools and the amount of everyday environmental education was encouraging. And the kids lapped it up. So where did that good education go.? How come we have so much sodding litter.? It matters just as much as the ice caps melting. Or is it too mundane.? I pick the stuff up on any walks I do on a weekly basis. Or I walk back from where my bike is kept and I'm picking up fistfuls of crisp packets, drink bottles, you name it, and then putting them in my bins. The dustmen must think my lifestyle is so unhealthy. I've thought about taking a bag. In fact I will from now on. I'm going to try to encourage my fellow ramblers to do so too.
I never ever thought I'd get to the age where I'd be saying there has been a significant erosion of moral, social and environmental responsibility. It sounds like an old person's message, but it isn't. I can't say that I sound like my parents because they wouldn't have even considered it. It was just there.
I work in highways and was out doing a driven survey yesterday. We were driving up the stunningly beautiful Black Mountains when around a bend we come across 3 sacks of litter which the inquisitive sheep had torn into so is blowing all over the place. I almost cried. What the **** is wrong with people??!! It's lazy, selfish and costs the local authority tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. If they're caught they should be made to litter-pick for 6 months. Gggrrrrr 
