This evening we headed out for what I hope will be a regular Community Mission, a litter-pick around Stirchley. Our household has got to know the parks and paths of B30 pretty well during lockdown so we were keen to keep them clean and green!

Unfortunately Miriam couldn't make it after taking a tumble during a run earlier in the day (ouch! Get well soon!) so Karin, Laura and I jogged down to Hazelwell Park from Bournville railway station. The park was looking spick and span so we ran a loop to warm up before starting our plog along the River Rea walkway. At first glance there wasn't much litter to collect but it soon added up: by the time we reached the canal towpath we had two full bags of recyclables and one full of rubbish.

It was a sunny evening with plenty of pedestrians, cyclists and runners – plus a particularly curious puppy – and quite a few passers-by thanked us for helping to clean up. It's really nice to make a visible difference in our own neighbourhood.