Since he started litter picking in his area four years ago, Andis Coupe has found everything from sex toys to stolen laptops. Now, his community are raising money in thanks. Freddie Heynes reports.
The small pathway leading into Andis’ house, in the town of Mansfield Woodhouse, is bordered neatly by perfectly trimmed grass.
His kitchen is clean in a homely way – not a clinical, uncomfortable level of cleanliness, but a cosy and inviting space.
The shelves on the wall next to the door are adorned with an impressive range of booze – mostly thank-you gifts from residents of Woodhouse who appreciate his efforts in the community, he says.
Massage therapist Andis, 37, has been litter-picking in Woodhouse for four years, after a dog walk through a wooded area near his house left him feeling inspired to make a change.
“I was walking my dogs in the beautiful woods behind my house, and all the fly-tipping and litter just didn’t sit right with me,” he says.
“So I went to the shop and bought some bags and a cheap litter picker.
“The first day I went litter picking, I spent about five hours doing it – I just got really into it.”
Andis finds all kinds of discarded belongings while out on litter picks – some more personal than others.
“There are some funny things you do come across. Lots of sex toys, usually in car parks – it’s quite amusing to find those,” he adds.
“There’s not just cans and wrappers – lots of plastic, car bonnets, old doors, old tyres, all on the path into the woods.”
But he added there are always more sinister finds lurking in the hedgerows and bushes.
“In some particular parts of the woods, there are a lot of syringes and other drug paraphernalia like discarded marijuana bags,” he says.
“I gather them together safely and wait for the council to come and collect them.
“I’ve found stolen laptops in the past, too.
“One time I came across 50 little bracelet boxes from a shop. That was an interesting find.”
Just over three years ago, Andis created a Facebook group called Keep Woodhouse Tidy for people in his local area to encourage others to “take pride in their local area”.
The group has now grown to more than 350 members, with regular posts being met with positive comments and reactions.
He says: “The support on the Facebook group means a lot. People are coming together, if not in person then in voice on social media.
“We can always do with more people to help out. I think most of the community do not approve, or does not want to live in a filthy area.”
Two years ago, Andis progressed from litter picking to trimming lawns and planting flower beds in the community.
But there have been some recurring issues with his green-fingered actions.
“Every year since they’ve been planted, the flowers get destroyed by teenagers on school holidays,” he says.
“I prepared myself for it [this year], so I wasn’t too disheartened, but the way people came together on social media to support me afterwards was very heart-warming.”
It was these repeated instances of Andis’ hard work being destroyed that led to one member of his Facebook group creating a JustGiving page as a sign of gratitude.
In the description of the JustGiving page, Cheri Wilson thanked Andis for all his hard work in the community, and stated that the money being raised was for Andis to “treat himself to something nice.”
The Woodhouse community raised just under £300 for Andis.
The community came together in comments under the JustGiving page.
One user said: “Nobody works harder, thank-you Andis. Happy to donate.”
Another said: “Andis, we applaud your community spirit.”
The question then came – what would Andis treat himself to? Was there anything nice he had an eye on, and just needed that final push to buy?
No, he had other plans.
He says: “I messaged [Cheri] and said I want to put all the funds raised back into the local community.
“I understand that it was aimed to raise some funds for me, but I don’t do this for any financial gain.
“I do it because I want to better the community which I live in.
“I came to find that a couple of little flower beds in the community mean a lot to people.
“If someone destroys something you’ve done in the community, then you need to keep going because at some point they’re going to stop ruining it.”
Watch the video below to find out what Andis did with the money.
Perhaps surprisingly, Andis does not hold any grudges against the litterbugs he sinks many hours of his own time into cleaning up after.
“I think a lot of people who do litter are completely oblivious to doing it,” he says.
“I’ve been next to people who eat a candy and throw the wrapper on the floor without thinking about it.”
But for Andis, this type of negligence was drilled out of him from a young age.
“I was brought up to love where you live and always make a positive difference,” he adds.
“I’ve lived in Sheffield previously, but I grew up in Latvia.
“Twice a year we had big community clean-ups. Everybody in school would go around with rakes and litter pickers to make the area look pretty.
“I’ve lived in many places in England and abroad, and I’ve always tried to make a positive impact where I’ve lived.
“What I can do on a day to day [basis] is look after the immediate area around where I live.
“I do work – I’ve got my own life, but litter picking is a little bit of a passion of mine.
“I’ll try and carry that on with me for as long as I can.”
While Andis is willing to spend lots of his own time helping out in his community, he is aware that many hands make light work.
He says: “I would encourage people, if you do something like [litter picking], never to stop – just to power through.
“There are too many people who enjoy the little pretty things.”
Mansfield District Council were approached for comment on Andis’ efforts, but did not reply by the time of publication.
Long video
Social media video
