Allendale Primary School students praised for litter picking

The four girls, all aged nine and students at Allendale Primary School, went litter picking in their home village of Allendale on Saturday, February 11.

Gemma Wilkinson, mother of group member Lola Gilbertson, said the girls wanted to tidy the area of their own accord.

"They all arranged to meet up on Saturday and they'd all been saying for ages they hate it when there's rubbish lying around. There isn't loads of rubbish but a few times when me and my daughter have gone for a walk we have picked up a few different things.

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"They took a small bag, but then there was so much stuff they had to go back to get a bigger one and picked up a lot of different things, there was a lot of beer cans which were thrown on the sides of the roads.

"They said they'd do it again because they really enjoyed it. If we ever go to places where there is litter, she's always asking 'why is that there', she just doesn't understand why people just don't put things in the bin. I think that's the best way for kids to think."

At least two bin bags of litter were collected and the girls have been praised on social media by community members.

"The recognition they got on the Facebook post, everyone was thanking them. There's been a lot of nice people thanking them for doing it.

"I was super proud, it's things like this that will change the world. The fact that these did it off their own back and they actually enjoyed it, they felt really good about themselves."  

Gemma said the girls want to continue litter picking in future and hopes their friends at school may want to join in.

"There's not loads of litter where we live, we are quite proud of the place but it just goes to show there is some around.

"It would be great if more kids would show more interest in it. Everyone could just do their little bit and it would definitely help, I think it will inspire other kids to do it," Gemma added.