How many cigarette butts can you pick up in just 15 minutes? ⏱️

That was the challenge thrown down by our host, Melanie from The Green Centre Brighton, when the GoodGym and Active Sussex crews teamed up at The Level this past Tuesday.

Even though it started pouring right at 1pm (classic British weather! 🌧️), everyone rolled up their sleeves for the Green Centre’s Green Spaces Programme. The mission? Show some love to our local park and clear out as much litter as possible.

In just a quarter of an hour, every single volunteer bagged between 75g and 100 g of cigarette butts, with Mac leading the charge! It might sound like a small dent, but it’s a massive win for Keep Britain Tidy's Cigarette Butts Are Rubbish Campaign. Believe it or not, cigarette butts are the UK's biggest litter problem, with an estimated 2.4 million of them dropped on England's high streets at any given moment, despite a decreasing number of adults who smoke regularly.

In total we collected 14.54 kgs of litter.

General waste: 7.37 kgs (incinerated at Newhaven recovering energy to create electricity) Aluminium Cans: 0.86 kgs (weighed in at Richardson's scrap metal yard) Plastic: 1.29 kgs (recycled) Glass: 5.02 kgs (recycled) Cigarette butts: 1,250 Kg - this was rounded down slightly because everything was wet. (included in general waste)

This hands-on GoodGym community mission was the perfect way for both groups to put their eco-goals into action! GoodGym aims to make a positive environmental impact by combining exercise with conservation tasks that increase biodiversity and green spaces. Similarly, among their core actions since signing their Environmental Sustainability Commitment, Active Sussex are embedding eco-friendly practices into daily operations, engaging local sports networks, and advocating for better access to quality blue and green spaces.

Taking part in this park clearance was the perfect opportunity to "walk the talk." By maintaining and improving the city's green spaces, we help ensure these vital areas remain clean, safe, and welcoming places for everyone to get outdoors and stay active. 🌿🏃‍♂️

Active Sussex, you are welcome to join us again anytime!

We met by the Peace Statue and unanimously agreed on one thing before we’d even set off: how is it still this incredibly hot?! Nevertheless, we got ourselves moving and made our way through the warm Brighton evening to our task.

On arrival we met Tom, who welcomed us, showed us the tools and pointed out the areas of the garden most in need of some attention. And there was certainly plenty to get stuck into!

We set to work clearing a huge amount of weeds, with bindweed making a particularly determined bid for garden domination. Many handfuls, armfuls and bags later, we’d brought some much-needed order back to the space, opening it up for residents to enjoy again and hopefully giving them the chance to develop their own green fingers.

As ever, the conversation flowed as quickly as the weeds disappeared. Tom kept us entertained with some fascinating stories, while our very own Jane treated us to a potted history of Arundel Castle and England's Dukedom. We also learnt from Tom about Father Mark and the history of how 58 Cromwell Road came to be.

More importantly, Tom reminded us why places like this matter and of the real difference a welcoming, cared-for space can make to people’s lives. It was lovely to be reminded that, although pulling weeds might seem like a small thing, lending a few pairs of willing hands can contribute to something much bigger.

With a rather less jungly garden behind us, we said our goodbyes and ran off into the still-light, and still very warm, summer evening.

6 GoodGymmers ran and cycled their way to FareShare Sussex and Surrey’s depot this evening, to help them prepare for tomorrow’s deliveries and collections.

After donning our mandatory kit of boots, high viz vests, and gloves - we were given our instructions by task host Steven.

After a rather hot and sweaty 2.5 mile run, Rosie, Jane and Nicola were eager to help out in the refrigerated section of the warehouse, picking orders ready for collection, while cyclists Rachel, Sarah and Sarah opted to keep warm and help load the van with tomorrow’s deliveries to the Guildford hub.

FareShare Sussex & Surrey provide food to more than 144 local charities and community groups that not only deliver meals but provide additional services, such as advice and guidance, health support, counselling and befriending. They are an environmental charity that uses surplus food as a vehicle for good above and beyond alleviating hunger.