Proud pupils taking the lead when it comes to clearing up litter

Pupils from an Orpington primary showed the way in the local Downe Community Litter Pick last week as they joined volunteers to help keep the area tidy.

Down Primary School’s specially-created Eco Council was inundated with support for last weekend’s event and children headed out a day early with some local residents leading the way.

With 11 children helping out, using rubbish sacks supplied by Bromley council, and borrowed litter pickers, discarded litter in the streets around the school was soon scooped up and disposed of.

Children who took part explained why it was so important to them to help out: Riansh said: “It was great that we got to help our local community to get rid of the litter.”

Avianna added: “Our litter pick made sure that we supported our local environment. I don’t want animals to get hurt from rubbish which is left on the ground.”

Rebecca Dolan, headteacher at the school, in High Elms Road, said: “A message was posted on Downe Village Facebook page a while ago about the litter pick, which the whole of Downe village was taking part in, and we jumped at the chance of getting involved with our Eco Council.

“Heading out a day early last Friday, our volunteers managed to clear up an impressive amount of rubbish overseen by some of the organising residents.

“It is so important for children to learn at a young age about the importance of keeping our community clean and tidy and why litter is detrimental to that. I am really proud of all their efforts.”

Pictured top: The Eco Council out in force (Picture: Downe Primary School/Pioneer Academy)