I was in despair about the environmental crisis. Then I volunteered to clean up my local park

'Instead of sobbing in front of your computer screen,' my counsellor said, 'go out and do something'There's a pesky crisp wrapper half-sunk in the mud under brambles. Each time I secure it within the jaws of my litter-picker, another piece tears off. I persist, until all the fragments of coloured foil are in my bin liner. Then I move on.I'm volunteering with a group at my local park. They perform a range of tasks, but today - my first time - we're litter-picking. "Aren't you good?" passersby say, as they walk through the park with their takeaway coffees. Or sometimes: "You're fighting a losing battle there, love!" Continue reading...