Caroline Langford – on the right of the picture – briefing volunteers for Floral Sark’s annual Spring Litter Pick. (0937562)

LAST Sunday was the first day of spring and as such an appropriate day for Floral Sark to hold its Spring Litter Pick.

Organised by Caroline Langford, a goodly team of volunteers gave up the opportunity to watch the football on television – or simply just to put their feet up – and instead set to work clearing most of the principal highways of litter.

She told me later that it was fortunate that those who went down Harbour Hill were accompanied by some fairly slim children as they were used to recover plastic bags and the like which had blown into bushes where, without these able little assistants, they might well have remained.

I resisted remarking that this was akin to the thankfully outlawed practice of chimney sweeps sending small lads up narrow chimneys only after she told me that the children thought it was great fun and were later rewarded with chocolate eggs.

The adults, meanwhile, got their reward when they assembled a couple of hours later at the Island Hall, where manager Sharon Boerenbeker had laid on refreshing pots of tea and a specially baked cake.

While on the subject of the Island Hall, Caroline told me that Floral Sark has used some of its hard-earned funds to build steps leading from the hall’s main entrance on to the Millennium Field – the edge of which has been made into some extremely attractive flowerbeds. That should keep feet – large and not so large – off the flowers.

That in turn leads me to say that the hall itself is now fully operational after months of work rectifying the considerable amount of damage caused by a water leak. That means that the premises can once again be the focal point – as it has been since it was first opened – for all manner of social and sporting activities.

Quite how those concerned have managed to keep the place running while the extensive repairs were being carried out – that included re-laying the whole of the wooden floor in the main hall itself – speaks volumes for the way Sark invariably manages to overcome all manner of adversity.

It’s probably appropriate now – while referring to matters flora – to mention the wildflower exhibition at the Visitor Centre, which starts tomorrow and runs until 7 May. That coincides – if the weather plays its part – with the annual display of Sark’s famed bluebells, something I always say is well worth a day trip all on its own.

Then there’s the yearly Wildflower Fortnight – this year it’s from 24 April until 8 May – and the Sark Tourism website will give details of what’s on offer where and when for early season visitors.

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However, before that – on 14 April – Chief Pleas meets for its Easter meeting. Although I have only had time for a swift look at the agenda, it will be interesting to see if, with no fewer than 31 items listed, the sitting will be over as quickly as has been the case for the past year or so.

I see that the assembly will again be debating whether to licence all passenger and cargo vessels entering Sark harbours – irrespective of where they are coming from. This measure is widely interpreted here as being less to do with protecting Sark Shipping’s lifeline service to and from St Peter Port and more to do with stopping the Brecqhou Warrior from operating.

It will be interesting to see if cogent arguments for the measure are put forward on this occasion – and also to see if any explanation is given for the sudden resignation of Conseiller Ann Atkinson as chairman of Finance and Commerce – the third committee chairman to resign in this assembly’s short life.

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