Val and I 'invested' our time, 'traded' our lunchtime for a litter-pick and got a positive 'return' for our investment.

We focused on Hedge Finds (as opposed to Funds), and sought out the unwanted 'liquid assets' (plastic bottles) and used 'leverage' to secure the litter caught deep in the hedges.

A few dog walkers and a local garage owner showed 'interest' in our performance, and said that the community 'profited' from our 'deposits' in the bin.

Large lumps of cement and brick were dug up last summer from the fly-tipped corner, which has subsequently become the Southbourne guerilla garden.

I loaded 3 crates-full and took them to the tip. Hopefully they'll find a new use as hardcore.

Val and Judy walked a stretch of the small Ham brook, across little wooden bridges, crossing the railway tracks by looking left & right, and passing new housing developments.

We jumped into ditches and stretched to reach litter caught in brambles. After just 45 minutes, there was a full black sack, a full purple bucket and we'd collected bags for life & a bucket for use at future litter picks.

There is plenty more in tributary streams and ditches for future sessions.

I joined the Southbourne Environment Group to weed, litter-pick and prune the beds outside Tesco Express.

The insect-friendly plants are looking great and they are certainly enjoying our wet & warm July!