PUPILS from a Lydney primary school armed themselves with “little grabbers” for a litter pick in their local area to kick off this year’s Great British Spring Clean campaign.

Children from Primrose Hill C of E Primary Academy were “out in force” this week to tidy up areas near their school with support from Forest of Dean District Council’s Street Wardens team.

The school organised the event to coincide with the launch of the annual campaign to “clean up the country” from national litter charity Keep Britain Tidy.

The “litter-busting youngsters” collected drinks bottles, cans and sweets wrappers and crisp packets from the undergrowth, and were “shocked” to find one packet which was ten years old amongst the rubbish.

The Great British Spring Clean takes place between March 25 and April 10 and invites individuals, families, communities and schools, to pledge to pick up as much rubbish as they can during the fortnight, as part of this year’s #BigBagChallenge.

The charity stresses that litter picking can be accessible to everybody with the right resources and that “no one is too small to make a big difference.”

Councillor Sid Phelps, Cabinet Member for Environment at Forest of Dean District Council, said: “The Great British Spring Clean presents a great opportunity to engage with our younger generations about the problem of litter not just here in the Forest of Dean, but about how it affects the environment on a global scale. 

“At best litter is unsightly but by far the largest problem is the threat it poses for wildlife and the damage it does to our ecosystems by the pollution it causes.

“The good news is that every bag really does make a difference.

“If every school-aged child in the district pledged to pick up just one bag of litter during the Great Big Spring Clean, along with the community groups already committed to taking part, it would have a hugely positive impact on our local area.” 

Primrose Hill C of E - Great British Spring Clean
(Forest of Dean District Council)

Emma Mignaud, Head Teacher at Primrose Hill C of E Primary Academy, said: “The pupils have had an enjoyable day hunting out litter in the local area and while at first glance there didn’t appear to be too much around, we were all surprised about how much litter actually lays hidden in the undergrowth.

“One crisp packet we found, although a little faded and tattered, was ten years old, probably having been dropped before most of the pupils taking part were born, which was very thought provoking.

“Taking part in the Great British Spring Clean has been a great opportunity to show students first-hand the problem of litter and we were all genuinely shocked at how long it lasts in our environment if left.”

The school’s collected bags of litter will be counted towards their Big Bag Challenge target.

The district council has said it will collect bags of litter from anyone looking to take part in the challenge.

Anyone who doesn’t have space for what is collected in their refuse bin can request stickers to put on black bags to be placed beside the bin on collection day.

Community groups with large amounts of rubbish can arrange for the council to collect it from a specific location.

To request stickers, a collection or to borrow litter pickers from the council, email [email protected].

Schools who would like to arrange a litter pick with the support of the council’s Street Wardens should email [email protected].