The little litter picker on a mission to save the planet
ELIZABETH Gadsdon isn’t like most eight-year-olds.
Instead of spending her spare time playing with friends or watching her favourite TV programmes, the youngster throws herself into saving the planet.
Elizabeth, from the Wirral in Merseyside, regularly takes to her local streets and parks armed with a miniature litter picker, high-vis vest and bin bag to clear up discarded rubbish.
With some help from her best friend Banjo the labrador, she is thought to have filled over 70 bin bags in the last year.
Elizabeth, who is a big superhero fan and calls herself ‘The Little Collector’, has founded a children’s litter picking crew to keep her local area clean and her online page has attracted thousands of followers. Her mother Faith, 43, a firefighter, said: ‘She started by popping out for half an hour with a bag and kitchen tongs at the weekend. At one point I turned to her and told her if she got tired of it at any point she could stop. But she turned to me and said: “Why on earth would you tell me to stop caring for the planet?”. Her favourite motto is: “Together we can make a difference,” and I think she’s right.’
Elizabeth, whose voluntary work was recognised by Theresa May with a prestigious Points of Light award last year, said her ‘secret mission is to make the Wirral plastic straw-free’.