Borderlands Grappling gives back: Community clean-up at Mortimer Forest

Turns out it isn't just grappling competitions that Borderlands cleans up at!

On Sunday, 26th July, the team at Borderlands Grappling traded the mats for the outdoors to give back to the local community with a volunteer litter-picking day at Mortimer Forest.

Following a team open mat training session, a group of 11 students of all ages gathered at High Vinnalls car park, eager to roll up their sleeves and make a positive impact. Over the course of an hour and a half, the crew worked together to clear rubbish from around the main car park and the surrounding trail networks, leaving the popular scenic spot noticeably cleaner and greener.

After a solid stretch of hard work, the team kicked back to relax, catch up, and enjoy some well-earned food. To cap off the day, everyone grabbed a warm drink from Margot’s Coffee Stand, a great new addition situated right in the car park.

Building community on and off the mats

At Borderlands Grappling, martial arts is about more than just training—it’s about building character, teamwork, and strong community ties. Events like this offer a fantastic opportunity for students across different age groups to connect outside the gym while giving something meaningful back to the local area.

"At Borderlands, we have built a community of amazing, like-minded people," shared Head Coach, Owain Williams, "one of the pillars that hold up that community is our desire to help others – it just made sense to organise a volunteering day where we could spend some time doing that within the wider community."

A huge thank you to all the students and families who came out to lend a helping hand. Also to Ludlow Council for the loan of the litter pickers.

Stay tuned for future volunteering opportunities in the coming months.