Latest news with #HackneyMarshes
Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Times
Meet the hotshots hoping to clean up in the litter-picking world cup
Litter pickers can often be found in the park of a Sunday morning. But those gathered on east London's Hackney Marshes this weekened were more energetic than most. Around 60 enthusiasts armed with gloves, pickers and bin bags are competing to represent the UK in the world cup of SpoGomi, a Japanese-inspired litter-picking sport. Despite Japan's reputation for pristine streets, the British are the reigning champions. Defence of their title and plane tickets to the final in Tokyo were at stake. After the whistle was blown at 11.40am, the teams of three rushed off to rummage in the nearest hedges. Their task was seemingly simple: collect as much rubbish as they could within an hour. But as Sarah Parry, the UK's reigning champion, explained, it is far from straightforward.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘The sorest my legs have ever been': hordes to descend on Hackney for litter-picking world cup
Armed with gloves, metal tongs and plastic rubbish sacks, hordes of determined litter-pickers will descend on Hackney Marshes in east London this weekend. Spogomi, a Japanese litter-picking sport, has come to the UK. Invented in 2008, it was intended as a competition to encourage people to clean up public spaces. It is now played in schools across the country as people gamify collecting rubbish. Sarah Parry, a 29-year-old doctor from Glasgow, is part of the reigning world champion team. The British team beat the Japanese in Tokyo in 2023, the last time the competition was held, when she and her two teammates managed to bag 61lbs (28kg) more rubbish than the host country. The teams have 45 minutes to collect as much litter as possible, then 20 minutes to sort their litter. Teams are awarded points based on the type of litter and its recycling category. Parry is competitive and has run 33 marathons, so when she stumbled across this sport by chance after her brother saw an advertisement for it, she got a team together and signed up to go to Japan. 'We are not avid litter-picker-uppers in our free time – it was luck, competitiveness and enthusiasm more than anything else,' she said. Parry will be in Hackney picking up litter this Sunday, but is not allowed to compete officially because the winners of the previous competition are not allowed to win in consecutive years. She is just doing it to see how much litter she can bag up. Litter-picking may sound like a peaceful pursuit, but it can be strenuous. 'It is very physically difficult,' Parry said. 'I have run 33 marathons and the sorest my legs have ever been is after winning the Spogomi World Cup two years ago. 'It's a lot of very fast walking and you are carrying a lot of awkward-shaped items and using different muscle groups, and it's heavy litter and it was very hot in Tokyo when we competed. We collected over 50kg so you have to carry that between you while power-walking through a busy urban area.' Parry said spogomi was unlike any other sport: 'It is very fun. You don't often get the chance to play sport in a busy urban area where the people around you don't know or understand what you are doing and why you are so excited to spot a glass bottle.' But more seriously, she said, it drew attention to a very important issue: the blight of litter plaguing Britain's streets. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'It is shocking how much there is. We realised we are walking around constantly blind to this litter problem. When you notice it, it's all you can see. I see it everywhere now, I just constantly see litter. It just opens your eyes to it.' Though the sport was conceived in Japan, she says the country has far less of a litter problem than the UK: 'The UK is so much dirtier than Japan because I guess in Japan there is a very altruistic community where people care about their environment. They have more respect in their culture than they do in the UK.' Because of this, she hopes it can become a more popular sport in the UK so people start caring more about litter. 'It's a shame it's not a more well-known sport in the UK. I am somebody who didn't pick up litter before this and it now gets me into a different mindset of how I view litter. Thats what's really nice about the sport,' Parry said. 'What spogomi does is tap into people who aren't eco-minded, turns it into a game, makes it competitive. I pick up more litter than I did before.' Parry has some pointers for the competitors this year: 'My tips would be: taking it seriously, viewing it as a sport, being competitive and pushing yourself are important. If you are dawdling around picking up litter you're not going to win. Just because it's litter-picking doesn't mean you can't push your body physically.'
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘The sorest my legs have ever been': hordes to descend on Hackney for litter-picking world cup
Armed with gloves, metal tongs and plastic rubbish sacks, hordes of determined litter-pickers will descend on Hackney Marshes in east London this weekend. Spogomi, a Japanese litter-picking sport, has come to the UK. Invented in 2008, it was intended as a competition to encourage people to clean up public spaces. It is now played in schools across the country as people gamify collecting rubbish. Sarah Parry, a 29-year-old doctor from Glasgow, is part of the reigning world champion team. The British team beat the Japanese in Tokyo in 2023, the last time the competition was held, when she and her two teammates managed to bag 61lbs (28kg) more rubbish than the host country. The teams have 45 minutes to collect as much litter as possible, then 20 minutes to sort their litter. Teams are awarded points based on the type of litter and its recycling category. Parry is competitive and has run 33 marathons, so when she stumbled across this sport by chance after her brother saw an advertisement for it, she got a team together and signed up to go to Japan. 'We are not avid litter-picker-uppers in our free time – it was luck, competitiveness and enthusiasm more than anything else,' she said. Parry will be in Hackney picking up litter this Sunday, but is not allowed to compete officially because the winners of the previous competition are not allowed to win in consecutive years. She is just doing it to see how much litter she can bag up. Litter-picking may sound like a peaceful pursuit, but it can be strenuous. 'It is very physically difficult,' Parry said. 'I have run 33 marathons and the sorest my legs have ever been is after winning the Spogomi World Cup two years ago. 'It's a lot of very fast walking and you are carrying a lot of awkward-shaped items and using different muscle groups, and it's heavy litter and it was very hot in Tokyo when we competed. We collected over 50kg so you have to carry that between you while power-walking through a busy urban area.' Parry said spogomi was unlike any other sport: 'It is very fun. You don't often get the chance to play sport in a busy urban area where the people around you don't know or understand what you are doing and why you are so excited to spot a glass bottle.' But more seriously, she said, it drew attention to a very important issue: the blight of litter plaguing Britain's streets. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'It is shocking how much there is. We realised we are walking around constantly blind to this litter problem. When you notice it, it's all you can see. I see it everywhere now, I just constantly see litter. It just opens your eyes to it.' Though the sport was conceived in Japan, she says the country has far less of a litter problem than the UK: 'The UK is so much dirtier than Japan because I guess in Japan there is a very altruistic community where people care about their environment. They have more respect in their culture than they do in the UK.' Because of this, she hopes it can become a more popular sport in the UK so people start caring more about litter. 'It's a shame it's not a more well-known sport in the UK. I am somebody who didn't pick up litter before this and it now gets me into a different mindset of how I view litter. Thats what's really nice about the sport,' Parry said. 'What spogomi does is tap into people who aren't eco-minded, turns it into a game, makes it competitive. I pick up more litter than I did before.' Parry has some pointers for the competitors this year: 'My tips would be: taking it seriously, viewing it as a sport, being competitive and pushing yourself are important. If you are dawdling around picking up litter you're not going to win. Just because it's litter-picking doesn't mean you can't push your body physically.'
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
London council ‘will kill off grassroots football clubs' with parking charge
A Labour council will kill off grassroots football clubs with a £5.70 parking charge, critics have claimed. Hackney council is proposing to levy the charges at Hackney Marshes, where former England footballers John Terry and David Beckham once played. Local clubs have branded the move a 'money-grabbing scheme' which has left them fearing for the future of grassroots football. Riza Demirbas, who runs a local men's team called Onetouchables FC, has launched a petition against the charges and secured has more than 1,000 signatures. The 30-year-old said: 'It's a real kick in the teeth. It's a money-grabbing scheme from the council. 'We already all pay Hackney council a lot just to play there. Every month, we pay just under £200 in pitch fees, plus £90 for referees. 'Not to mention, there are over 100 teams in the league so they're making enough money from all of us. 'Why do they need to charge for parking too? 'It becomes even more stupid when you realise the charges are higher than what they charge at Westfield Shopping Centre,' said Mr Demirbas. 'It's going to drive clubs out of the Marshes. They won't be able to afford to play any more.' Hackney council has put signs in the Hackney Marshes Centre car park informing drivers of its plan to introduce hourly charges from July, seven days a week. These would be £2.60 for zero emission cars, £3.70 for petrol cars which are registered from 2005, £4.70 for diesel vehicles registered from 2015, and £5.70 for all other vehicles – as well as for payments made at machines. Hackney council said: 'We're proud that Hackney Marshes is the home of grassroots football, and we have put in huge investment in recent years to maintain and improve Hackney Marshes Centre and the pitches that are used by thousands of people from Hackney and across the capital every week. 'We know not everyone can access the marshes by public transport, which is why we provide two dedicated car parks. 'These proposals aim to ensure those who need to park can continue to do so affordably, with fees for most vehicles in line with similar facilities and only the most polluting paying the maximum charge. 'The fees we are proposing would bring parking at Hackney Marshes in line with all other council-managed car parks, help improve air quality in what is Hackney's largest green space, and encourage those who can use sustainable forms of transport to do so.' But Mr Demirbas, who lives in Hackney, is worried about the future of his club. He said: 'I set this club up by myself as a community project. 'I was born in Hackney and there's a lot of crime here, so I really wanted to run a team to make a change – steer younger lads away from that life and give them something good for their mental and physical health. 'But I run it out of my own pocket. There's no profit. 'So I'm worried that if the charges come in I'll have to stop – and let 30 to 40 players down. 'I have to drive as I have to carry all the kit, and I also make sure to pick up some team members who live further away so everyone gets there safely. 'But because I get there early to set up, that means I'm there from 8am until 1:30pm. So I'm going to be paying £20 every Sunday to park. In what world is that feasible? 'It will hit most players. There are only two buses that go to the Marshes – and service on Sundays, when we play, is poor. 'The train station is a 20-minute walk away. So people need to drive. They really have cornered us. They know they can get away with it so they're doing it. 'But this will hit families and the community. People won't be able to afford to play anymore. 'It will push teams out of the Marshes.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
11-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
London council ‘will kill off grassroots football clubs' with parking charge
A Labour council will kill off grassroots football clubs with a £5.70 parking charge, critics have claimed. Hackney council is proposing to levy the charges at Hackney Marshes, where former England footballers John Terry and David Beckham once played. Local clubs have branded the move a 'money-grabbing scheme' which has left them fearing for the future of grassroots football. Riza Demirbas, who runs a local men's team called Onetouchables FC, has launched a petition against the charges and secured has more than 1,000 signatures. The 30-year-old said: 'It's a real kick in the teeth. It's a money-grabbing scheme from the council. 'We already all pay Hackney council a lot just to play there. Every month, we pay just under £200 in pitch fees, plus £90 for referees. 'Not to mention, there are over 100 teams in the league so they're making enough money from all of us. 'Why do they need to charge for parking too? 'It becomes even more stupid when you realise the charges are higher than what they charge at Westfield Shopping Centre,' said Mr Demirbas. 'It's going to drive clubs out of the Marshes. They won't be able to afford to play any more.' Hackney council has put signs in the Hackney Marshes Centre car park informing drivers of its plan to introduce hourly charges from July, seven days a week. These would be £2.60 for zero emission cars, £3.70 for petrol cars which are registered from 2005, £4.70 for diesel vehicles registered from 2015, and £5.70 for all other vehicles – as well as for payments made at machines. Hackney council said: 'We're proud that Hackney Marshes is the home of grassroots football, and we have put in huge investment in recent years to maintain and improve Hackney Marshes Centre and the pitches that are used by thousands of people from Hackney and across the capital every week. 'We know not everyone can access the marshes by public transport, which is why we provide two dedicated car parks. 'These proposals aim to ensure those who need to park can continue to do so affordably, with fees for most vehicles in line with similar facilities and only the most polluting paying the maximum charge. 'The fees we are proposing would bring parking at Hackney Marshes in line with all other council-managed car parks, help improve air quality in what is Hackney's largest green space, and encourage those who can use sustainable forms of transport to do so.' 'It will push teams out' But Mr Demirbas, who lives in Hackney, is worried about the future of his club. He said: 'I set this club up by myself as a community project. 'I was born in Hackney and there's a lot of crime here, so I really wanted to run a team to make a change – steer younger lads away from that life and give them something good for their mental and physical health. 'But I run it out of my own pocket. There's no profit. 'So I'm worried that if the charges come in I'll have to stop – and let 30 to 40 players down. 'I have to drive as I have to carry all the kit, and I also make sure to pick up some team members who live further away so everyone gets there safely. 'But because I get there early to set up, that means I'm there from 8am until 1:30pm. So I'm going to be paying £20 every Sunday to park. In what world is that feasible? 'It will hit most players. There are only two buses that go to the Marshes – and service on Sundays, when we play, is poor. 'The train station is a 20-minute walk away. So people need to drive. They really have cornered us. They know they can get away with it so they're doing it. 'But this will hit families and the community. People won't be able to afford to play anymore. 'It will push teams out of the Marshes.'
