Carbon Footprints team take steps for this year's Great Big Green Week

Armed with litter pickers and bags, the school’s Carbon Footprints club, took to the streets near to their school to see how much litter they could find and collect rubbish including wrappers, drinks cans and crisp packets.

Inspired by this year’s Great Big Green Week (24 September – 2 October) - the national campaign which shines a spotlight on what communities up and down the country are doing to tackle climate change, protect nature and care for their local open spaces - the litter pick is the latest activity undertaken by the club since its formation last year by the school’s out-going Year 6 pupils.

Sarah Richards, High Level Teaching Assistant at Littledean Primary school, who works with the current group, said: “The students are very much the driving force behind the club. Each has a specific focus covering all different areas of sustainability, from energy-saving to gardening, and the group meets regularly to discuss what actions they would like to do and how they can encourage and inform fellow students about the environment. The visit by the Council’s wardens, which included an assembly to the entire school, has been a great bonus.”

To date the Carbon Footprints club has created in-school displays that highlight environmental issues, held assemblies and fund-raising activities and planted flowers as well as fruit trees donated by the Woodland Trust, with the aim that in the future pupils will be able to eat locally grown, healthy snacks.

Councillor Richard Leppington, portfolio holder for environment at the Forest of Dean District Council said: “Our younger generations can be great influencers and it’s heartening to hear how passionate the pupils at the school are about protecting their environment and how informed they are, even at a young age, about the issue of litter, the harm and pollution it causes, and why it should be avoided. As part of this year’s Great Big Green Week the Council’s team of street wardens have been active visiting schools across the district to talk about litter, loan equipment and support with litter picking, and we would invite any school interested in doing something similar to get in touch.”

To arrange a visit from the Council’s street wardens email: [email protected]

Find out more about what’s been happening during the Great Big Green Week: https://greatbiggreenweek.com/