Some jobs on the estate are less about wildlife sightings and more about the less glamorous side of looking after the countryside. This weekend, that meant a Land Rover full of litter, collected from the roadside verges one bag, wrapper and bottle at a time.

It’s an unpleasant but familiar sight for anyone who manages land. Crisp packets, drinks cans, plastic bottles, fast food packaging and the odd abandoned container, all left behind by people passing through on roads that cross the estate.

None of it belongs there, and none of it is harmless.

Litter doesn’t just spoil the landscape. It becomes tangled in hedgerows, finds its way into ditches and watercourses, and can be genuinely dangerous to wildlife and livestock. Birds and small mammals can become trapped, while grazing animals may accidentally ingest plastic or other waste left at the roadside.

It’s a problem the wider Corby community has taken seriously too. Great Oakley has been proud to support Corby Clean & Proud, the Corby Wombles and community initiatives such as the Oakley Rangers, all of whom play an important role in caring for our local environment. Together, they have inspired hundreds of local people to give up their time to clear litter, improve green spaces and take pride in the places where they live. If you’d like to get involved or find out more, visit Corby Clean & Proud at www.corbyclean.co.uk.

The same principle applies here on the estate. If we see litter, we clear it. Looking after the countryside isn’t always glamorous, but it’s part of caring for the landscape, protecting wildlife and taking pride in the place we all share.

Thank you to everyone who disposes of their rubbish responsibly. For those who don’t, perhaps this Land Rover full of litter is a reminder that it doesn’t simply disappear. Someone has to pick it up, and the countryside is always better when we all do our bit and take pride in where we live.