30
Oct
Young Ripon litter pickers follow Marnie-Rae's lead
If you enjoyed reading this story, you will find plenty more just like it across our site. To read them, and for full access to all our content, please subscribe. It costs less than a pound a week and you will be supporting independent journalism. Click here to get started.
A group of children determined to rid Ripon's streets of rubbish gathered on Market Square yesterday morning, where they were praised by city mayor, Councillor Sid Hawke.
The children, supported by parents and grandparents, are following the example set by six-year-old Marnie-Rae, a pupil of Outwood Primary Academy Greystone.
She has been taking positive action to keep her neighbourhood clean and tidy and is now spreading the word to the wider community with help from her parents.
Her Mum, Sarah, told the Stray Ferret:
One windy morning on our way to school, Marnie-Rae noticed that there was rubbish blown all over the pavement and she said 'we can't just leave it here because it could hurt animals'.
Since then, she was been regularly picking up litter - some of which goes to the tip and other items that she recycles and makes into things such as jewellery boxes and bird feeders.
Marnie-Rae's actions earned her recognition, when she was selected as a finalist in the green category at the BBC Radio York Make a Difference Awards and that spurred her on to inviting other like-minded children to join her on her mission to keep Ripon's streets clean.
Cllr Hawke said:
She is a remarkable girl and it is tremendous to see, from the number of children, parents and grandparenets who have turned up today, that Marnie-Rae is an inspiration to others.
0