Litter in the outdoors is a sad reality, but when it comes to spreading awareness about protecting our outdoor spaces, no one wants to be preached to. Content on this topic needs to strike a balance between being educational, inspiring and action-inducing.

We joined Stephen McEvoy—mountain biker, activist @TrashFreeMTB and Co. Laois local—for Ireland’s annual National Spring Clean. Many hands make light work, and there is something about seeing kids picking up rubbish that isn’t theirs, that strikes a chord.

Instead of simply focusing on the amount of rubbish we had found, we wanted to showcase the beauty of the outdoor spaces we were trying to preserve. The video starts with a punchy sequence following a group of mountain bikers doing what they love. It also shows off the impressive trail network in the Slieve Bloom Mountains—which provides a jarring contrast with the amount of rubbish we focus on later.

The video is meant to be thought-provoking, and hopefully action-inducing. With more awareness around this topic, we can create some meaningful change.

As mountain bikers and outdoor lovers this one really resonated with us. It was a personal project—our way of spreading awareness and giving back. If it inspires people to go shred their bikes but also think about the impact they are leaving too, all the better.