Kids make fresh start
PUPILS TEAM UP FOR A CLEAN UP TO PUT THE PRIDE BACK IN THEIR COMMUNITY
A SCHOOL has put the pride back in its community after teaming up with Keep Manchester Tidy to give it a beauty boost.
Earlier this year staff and pupils at St Wilfred’s Church of England Primary School in Newton Health highlighted the significant issues of littering and dog fouling around their school.
After trying to educate dog owners by speaking to them and putting up signs didn’t make an impact, they decided a new approach needed to be taken.
Working with Keep Manchester Tidy, the school decided that if they made improvements to the area around their school it would make people think twice about dropping their rubbish, and not picking up after their dog.
Keep Manchester Tidy consulted with various groups and individuals to gauge appetite for a project before going ahead.
A group of young volunteers from the National Citizen Service were given the task of redesigning the land outside the school. To bring in a wildlife element to the project, the group were also supported in their work by Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
Manchester council’s north neighbourhood team was also on board, ensuring the whole neighbourhood felt part of this project.
The young people worked solidly to clear, plant, tidy, and transform the area. Additional volunteers came down to help litter pick the vicinity and prune the alleyway and the project soon began to feel like ‘Our Manchester’ in action.
Pauline Martin, business manager at St Wilfreds, said: “The work has made a beautiful difference to the school and residents. It’s boosted the area and made it really appealing.
“Coming into school and seeing the plants and flowers is so much better than seeing an old cooker and sofa. It gives the area a little pride.”