So much rubbish flows into our streams from gutters and stormwater drains. I picked up about 40 items just from this grill alone on Warrigal road. Collected a full bag from rubbish on the footpath nearby.

My good friend Sameer showed me around the wonderful site at Tivoli Social Enterprises and their conservation park

I don’t normally discriminate…but I did today….I chose which pieces of rubbish I’d pick up, and left the others as only had one bag 😬 I’ll collect the rest tomorrow! Why?? I’m pitching in the Battle of the Founders event tonight! What is in the bag? I’ll unveil during the pitch!!

Here is a green wall near the UQ Atrium. Not much insect life sadly. But potential! Better than nothing.

I’m here with Liz and Sarah at QTFN discussing the power of connecting people and businesses to do great things for biodiversity

Cleaned up the rubbish swept into the basin in the last rain, some 203 pieces. The young trees are growing well ❤️😊

I watered the biobasin trees and planted a bottlebrush. Noticed lots of rubbish, will pick up next visit.

Until we can solve the production of disposable objects and wrappings, and until we change improve the behaviour of people who litter, some of us need to clean up, in the moment, so this rubbish doesn’t pollute and damage both our physical environment and our aesthetic enjoyment.

I watered 7 of the surviving tube stock I’d planted in the two biobasins as there’s been little rain in the last few weeks. One was looking quite dry, but it’s still alive. I’d lost one when council had whipper snipped it when cutting weeds. Also pulled out a few baby glycine and cobblers pegs. I’ve decided to plant many more shrubs and plants to give the small birds some cover.

I saw this huge piece of construction rubbish in the gutter, ready to enter the stormwater drain, our creeks and ocean. I didn’t walk on by. I picked it up and put it in the closest bin.

A lot of rubbish near the bus stops in the Link road area. Will take a couple of trips to clean it all up.

I find picking up rubbish therapeutic; it’s exercise, outdoors, an activity that is mildly stimulating (“what is that???”) but repetitive so it’s calming, and I know I’m doing good for the environment. 148 pieces picked up that won’t get into our streams and ocean. 💪❤️

Visited the biobasin and removed numerous baby glycine vines, and 3 large ones that were starting to cover the lomandras on the western side. Otherwise it is looking really healthy!

Revisited the Biobasin after some recent rain. More rubbish had been washed into the basin. Lots of plastic sadly.

I removed the last remaining large glycine vines from the lomandras in the biobasin. If these were left unchecked they’d overgrow all the vegetation. Doing this service frees up Brisbane City Councils time and money, but also saves vital biodiversity from being killed. Removing weeds by hand, by root also saves the use of poison.

There is a worldwide push to plant more trees and vegetation in cities like London to not only cool temperatures but increase biodiversity. London has 21% tree cover, with the mayor committing to increase this by 10%. Involving the residents helps by not only reducing the costs of helping keep the plants alive, but improves their care and community ownership. This story’s photos show a newly planted tree and a request for locals to care for it. Another role this platform can perform!!

On my recent trip to London I came across many different examples of making a difference, at an individual and business level. One of the first was the Oakleigh House Dental Practice, which has created a flower garden to encourage plant and insect biodiversity. Their website also has a great history of the house and area.

While waiting for my flight home I caught up with my mate Emmett who works at Sky HQ campus. How impressive are the grounds!! Full of native flowers, trees, insects and butterflies. Well done Sky!

Last day in London! What an amazing trip! I’ll post some more stories soon. I’m full of positivity as my flight approaches. I spent 30min picking up some more rubbish in the streets around our accommodation. I counted 92 seperate pieces, mostly plastic and smoking related. As I left I came across another group picking up rubbish! Long story short, LD Care services have a residential building close by and once a week a volunteer and residents pick up rubbish…..a future potential user group for the platform!!

In the queue for Wimbledon tickets! Vines seem to be a problem in the UK as well. Looks like ivy has been chopped to help the trees.