A group of Midlothian nursery kids have taken to their local streets for World Earth Day on Friday 22 April 2022.
Pupils at Chapter One Childcare at Shawfair House in Dalkeith created posters to encourage people to dispose of their waste and also carried out a litter pick at Sheriffhall Park and Ride.
The children had expressed a desire to help their community and to protect the local environment.
But they were understood to be shocked at the level of litter strewn across the area and noted that there was a shortage of bins in the vicinity.
The young people had been learning about how they can better protect the planet this week as a way of marking World Earth Day.
Rebecca Jones, the nursery manager, said: “The children wanted to carry out a litter pick in the local area, to try and help the local community and to try and help the wildlife living in the area.
“We decided to carry this out at Sheriffhall Park and Ride, as it is directly next to the nursery.
“The children were shocked at how much waste and litter was lying around, and in just an hour of collecting rubbish they had collected three big bags full of waste.
“Whilst carrying out the litter pick, the children noticed that there were not enough rubbish bins in the area and they plan to write to the council to ask for more waste bins to be added to the site to try and help with the litter problem, including recycling bins to help separate the waste.
“The children also decided that they should make posters to be put up on the site to try and encourage users to bin their waste.
“After creating their masterpieces, they have been distributed around the park and ride for users to take notice.
“The kids have helped to highlight the problem, and have shown how young people are trying to clean up their local community.”
