Pupils from Pentwynmawr Primary School teamed up with Groundwork Caerphilly to spruce up a section of the Sirhowy River as part of Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Big Spring Clean campaign.
The small but determined group collected seven bags of litter from the river near the rugby pitches in Blackwood, improving the look and feel of the area and the environment for the wildlife that call the river home.
Along with the seven bags of litter, the river was rescued from ruin by a few larger items, including a beer barrel and traffic cones.
Cllr Dave Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, praised the hard work of the pupils and Groundwork Caerphilly.
He said: “It is wonderful to see so many of our residents joining together and taking pride in their place. We live in such beautiful surroundings, and when irresponsible people litter or fly tip they spoil the environment for everyone. This campaign sends the message out that it is not acceptable, and that it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure our county borough stays clean and green for all who live, work and visit here.”
The Big Spring Clean campaign, which runs throughout March, April and May in Caerphilly County Borough, encourages residents to take pride in their place by joining together to clean up their communities, complementing the frontline maintenance work implemented by the council on a daily basis.
School children from Ysgol Gynradd Cwm Gwyddon, in Abercarn, found a sink while taking part in a Big Spring Clean event recently near their school.
Since the Big Spring Clean campaign was launched in March over 34 tonnes of litter and waste have been cleared by school children, volunteers and the Tidy Towns Team.