Jeanette Douglas

For today only, have a new job as a solo litter picker, though i havent been given any training so i am picking it up as i go along. After walking 5.5 miles and collecting 6 bags of rubbish, i have resigned from my new job (for today anyway) There was a very consistent theme to the collected rubbish: beer cans and plastic bottles plus a random pair of tracksuit bottoms! The route was mostly along national cycle route no.6 running through Watermead which had plenty of floods for me to wade through (luckily i was in my wellies) and onto Littlemead then out onto the roads & pavements. I end on a question .... How to bring together the local communities to tackle the litter problem and change behaviours?

IMPRESSIVE effort from all across the country with some very impressive finds! Well done to everyone who got out there for their daily exercise and helped their local area by making it a nicer place for a walk!

I'm not gonna lie, I've failed to decided on the winners as I think you all deserve a medal for doing good on your walk, so many people just walk past the rubbish but you actually picked it up on your Sunday Walk! high five to all

However, there were some fantastic (and sometimes gross) finds that are worth a mention me thinks:

• Not only Lucy R found ski-goggles, she also got a shout out on BBC6 radio for litter picking in Exeter! A celebrity!:)

• James and Linda had a few 'interesting' finds but a huge Kalashnikov toy-gun and a plait(!) are worthy of a mention!

• Dharmesh was unfortunate enough to find a pee sample.... Sorry buddy!

• Peter once again found some condom wrappers, I'm really starting to wonder where he does his litter-picking! he he :)

• Ceiling was very creative on her litter picking adventure by using her bike as a wheely bin of sorts, meaning she can use the biggest bag there is to pick a lot of litter quickly! Genius!

• Sarah and John found many interesting items, but I think finding a Well Done Sticker was very apt for what they did!

• Jess made her local park a much nicer place and in the process found a toy walkie talkie!

• Jo managed to a variety of sports balls that included a golf ball and a tennis ball and possibly a piece of a broken surfboard!

• Jo managed to find a shoe but only one, wonder where the other shoe dropped.... I know I know lol

• Sara managed to find a cat carrier, thankfully with no cats inside!!!

• Jeanette definitely deserves a medal for most bags collectd - 6 bags of rubbish!!!

• Remy managed to multi-task by litter picking and dog walking with tow bags in one hand! That's what I call a dedication!

• Lauren gets a in-action litter picker badge by picking up CO2 cannisters as they were thrown by some unpleasant litter tossers at a roundabout - well done! She also found a pram!!!

I hope I mentioned everyone who provided the details, it's been so lovely to read about your litter picking - you've just been super heroes for doing this on your Sunday walk! Keep it going:)

Yesterday, GoodGym Stockport hosted the second in a series of (not) parkrun training sessions, aiming to keep us fit, active and happy during the current Lockdown measures.

Saturday 16th saw an incredible 83 runners from GoodGyms up and down the country...and even overseas! (shout out to those who were running in GoodGym spirit from Prague and Spain!) pacing their local trails and green spaces to complete the 5km session.

It seems the elements were out in spectacular force with runners embracing the winter wonderland conditions!

All in all, a RUNderful Saturday (not) parkrun!

Next week, Saturday 23rd January, the baton will be passed to GoodGym Colchester to host. You can sign up here: https://www.goodgym.org/happenings/goodgym-not-parkrun-week-3

Once again, a massive thanks to Melanie Young @ GoodGym Bristol (a very savvy computer person ) for creating the results form and who will put the results together for our (not) parkrun events.