Playcentre helping keep Porirua beautiful

Paremata Playcentre did their best to keep Porirua beautiful last Tuesday with a beach clean up trip.

Children aged from 13 months to nearly 5 spent the morning on the beach at Ngatitoa Domain picking up rubbish in gloves or with tongs.

Paremata Playcentre president Eliza Pick said a beach clean-up was a great opportunity for the children to learn environmental responsibility.

‘‘Even our toddlers are able to be involved.’’ she said.

‘‘They get out into the fresh air and build a real sense of contributing to our community.’’

Frank Lunn, 3, was thorough in checking for garbage in the rocks at the back of the beach, finding old shopping bags, lolly wrappers and drink straws.

‘‘We want to keep our beach nice, all the straws have to go in the rubbish,’’ he said.

As well as rubbish the children kept an eye out for any natural ‘‘treasures’’ they could spot, finding driftwood, beautiful shells, pine cones and sea sponges.

Edward Pick, 4, was pleased with the work the centre had done. He said after all the rubbish they had taken away he didn’t think the beach would ever get dirty again.

The children had a great day. They got the chance to explore their local beach and learn about the difference between rubbish and natural treasures.

Now the community has a beach with a little less litter.