Great Big Green Week (6 to 14 June) is the UK’s largest annual celebration of community action, bringing people together to take action for climate and nature. This year’s theme is ‘Together for good’ – we can make our neighbourhoods better places to live, protect the natural world we love and show politicians and decision makers that people across the UK want positive change.
One great community action to bring people together is litter picking, which also benefits the environment by removing rubbish that can be hazardous for wildlife.
We’re encouraging individuals, families and churches to see if there’s a litter pick happening locally and get involved. If there isn’t, why not organise your own? Pray for your local area as you do the litter pick and ask God for opportunities to share why you are doing it.
Our Eco Church survey encourages churches to take part in community litter picks, beach cleans or river cleans. But what’s so great about litter picking?
- It protects the environment – litter spoils the beauty of natural spaces and can cause real harm to wildlife.
- It benefits those taking part. It offers gentle physical exercise, and spending time outdoors is good for our mental health and wellbeing.
- It brings people together, creating opportunities for neighbours to connect, work alongside one another, and build relationships across generations. To support community wellbeing and tackle loneliness, invite people to join a litter pick!
- Being out in the community opens space for prayer. Whether as a personal practice or as part of a ‘litter pilgrimage’, moving slowly through familiar places helps participants notice the people and nature around them and pray for what they see.
For practical advice take a look at Keep Britain Tidy, Keep Wales Tidy, CleanupUK and Wildlife Trusts – Do a litter pick. Many local councils will provide equipment to help you – high-vis vests, litter grabbers and bags for example. And if you register with your local council, they may also collect and recycle what you gather.
Explore the full resource below, and hear from the Eco Reps at St Nicholas Church in Maidstone, Kent, who share more about litter picking!
Eco reps at St Nicholas Church share about the benefits of litter picking!
What’s so great about litter picking? New Eco Church resource.
Explore the Easy Eco tips calendar for 2026.
Explore the map of events to see what’s happening in your local area during Great Big Green Week.
