Spring is here. 

Wildlife is awakening, buds are opening, cheery daffodils punctuate verges, gardens and footpaths and lambing season is upon us.

As we embrace the hope and brightness this time of the year brings with a spring in our step, we also need to gird ourselves for the negative aspects of warmer days and lighter evenings – people and their unsocial selfish and mucky behaviour.

This week an historic 20-acre walking field and nature site near Norwich had to be closed to the public because dog owners ignored requests to keep their dogs on leads.

The once ancient earthworks, Tasburgh Enclosure, was shut after calls by the Norfolk Archaeological Trust for two years for visitors to keep their dogs on leads failed.

One morning last week, they counted eight dogs off leads and two on leads putting the wildlife and the sheep at risk.

These are most likely the type of people who never pick up their dog mess either or pick it up and then hang the non-biodegradable bags artfully on bushes and branches rather than find a bin or take it home.

If it opens again, these people will continue to let their animals run riot so it will probably close forever, spoiling the enjoyment of others who love to walk the area.

Spoiling it for others. It’s some people’s raison d’etre. 

People who think nothing of how their behaviour impacts on others and suit themselves with their entitled attitudes are multiplying as fast as head lice.

Finding a bin for rubbish, fag ends, cans and cartons isn’t a difficult task, yet it seems beyond the wit of so many people. 

Walking the shoreline, dunes and beaches along our coast should be an uplifting experience.

But looking around at the winter rubbish sparks despair – and that’s before the summer litter dumping crowds turn out.

Our colony of seals is bigger than ever and something to give us pride. Everyone is aware of knows the harm that plastic and rubbish can do to the creatures yet still people dump their plastic.

Chucking anything on the ground in a beautiful place is unfathomable. 

Confronted by a half-wit hurling his roll-up butt on the pavement the other day near our office– not just dropping but hurling it into the distance and standing looking at it to check it wasn’t still burning - I photographed it with my phone and suggested he picked it up.

He looked red faced, was about to swear at me but scuttled to pick it up and hot footed off.

Emboldened, I’m entering spring on a mission – to challenge anyone acts anti-socially and is what we used to call a litter lout.

Rules and polite notices aren’t working. Shaming might just be more effective.

The most effective wardens of public conduct I’ve ever witnessed are children who have politely told offenders: “Excuse me, I think you’ve dropped something,” handing them the crisp or sweet packet they’ve thrown down.

Children and young people are environmental warriors and will not tolerate anything that blights their world.

It’s so sad that their hope is shattered by the disgust they feel in older people who should know better.

Tomorrow, a 10-year-old will be on one of his regular each clean and litter picks in Hemsby keeping his local beach clean to safeguard the wildlife he loves so much.

Since he was five, Theo Yeldham, who has severe dyslexia, growth and development delay, has dedicated his spare time to keeping the local environment clear of rubbish left by adults.

Through his eyes, nature, wildlife and the environment are beautiful and pure, and he wants to keep it that way.

Stoically and dedicated, he goes about his mission doing his bit to keep the seals safe and is an example to us all. 

His Facebook blog Jr Seal Ranger Theo has reached worldwide and inspired others to join him.

He has even encouraged local businesses to change their packaging into more environmentally sound boxes and cartons by showing them the volume of plastic and environment-damaging packaging he has picked up at Hemsby.

This is a boy who has faced considerable difficulties in his life who selflessly clears up after the selfish.

While others are gaming and staring at device screens, he is outside picking up the discarded filth of others.

If that’s not shaming people to behave decently, I don’t know what is.

Theo was honoured by BBC Bitesize last year and is in its “Regenerators” Hall of Fame.

He was also given a cart for his collecting when he won Hero of the Month from Facebook’s UK Litter Picking Groups.

Before Christmas, he was named Young Person of the Year in the EDP’s Star of Norfolk Awards.

His commitment is so impressive, he has gathered support from the offshore energy industry in the region. On his beach clean tomorrow, he will be joined by people working in the offshore wind industry wanting to do their bit to help him clean the environment.

Theo is a beacon in what can be a depressing world.

If we take his example and each do a little better, refuse to tolerate anyone who pollutes the environment, holds them to account and create our own atmosphere of zero tolerance, we will be treating Theo and other children like him with the respect they deserve and make the world a cleaner place for their future.