Dozens of school children have been teaming up with other community groups to get involved in this year’s Great British Spring Clean and make a difference to their area.

More than 70 pupils, family members and staff from Derwentwater Primary School in Acton helped to collect 31 bags of litter as part of a national mass-action environmental campaign.

They joined volunteer group Litter Action Group for Ealing Residents, better known as LAGER Can to pick up rubbish from Acton Park and the surrounding area at the end of last month. This year, LAGER Can is aiming to clean all 146 of the council’s parks and open spaces.

The children are all members of the school’s new eco-club, ‘Kids for Climate’. The evidence from the litter pick will allow them to collect data on litter in the park. The club members will brainstorm ideas on how to help prevent litter in future, based on the evidence they find.  

LAGER Can provided all the equipment and training for the event, which was organised by school staff members Ms Badau and Ms George and the Derwentwater School Association (DSA).

Tricia Howey, secretary of the DSA, said: “Derwentwater children are always eager to engage with the community. They are full of ideas and motivation and love to see their families involved. The DSA is on hand to support that and ensure our school continues to thrive. We are very proud of the children and how they showed up to support our community.”

The school runs several other programmes and activities to encourage the children and its staff to make positive changes for the environment.

Councillor Paul Driscoll, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for climate action, added: “It’s admirable to see young people wanting to take such proactive steps to help look after the area. It’s great to see them joining forces with community groups too. It just goes to show what can be achieved when we work together.”

Take part

If you want to arrange your own community litter-picking event, any time of year, the council can give you equipment to help you do this. You can also arrange for the bags to be collected when you have finished. Find out more on the council’s website.