A primary school have not only been planning how their town can become ‘Plastic Clever’ but also helping their MP with the national 25-year plan to improve the environment.

Salcombe Primary School spent the whole day learning about the negative impact of plastic waste and inventing new ideas for Salcombe to reduce its consumption of single use plastic. After which Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP for the Totnes constituency, visited the school to listen to the children’s ideas on how to protect the South Hams from plastic pollution in our oceans and on the land.

Anna Turns, who is leading the inspiring Plastic Clever campaign in Salcombe came in to talk to the pupils. She spent the morning explaining her campaign and ambition to make the whole of Salcombe Plastic Clever by encouraging residents and businesses to think sensibly about reusable and recyclable plastics.

In addition, the Cornish author, Ellie Jackson, who has written a series of books to help educate children about the impact of plastics on ocean ecosystems, came in to talk to the children.

Head teacher, Andy Pugsley, said the children were “so enthusiastic” about the campaign and were looking forward to the school improving its already successful commitment to reducing plastic. He hoped the school would soon become the “first Plastic Clever school in Devon”.

Throughout the afternoon, on Friday, March 16, the pupils were taught a simplified version of the 25 Year Environment Plan put forward by Theresa May. In class they discussed the 25-year plan, what could be altered and how this could impact Salcombe.

The year six children then created ideas for a manifesto for Salcombe with Anna, which could apply nationally, before Sarah Wollaston came in.

The children then told the local MP all their ideas which she compared to the recent reports of plastic pollution published in parliament.

Among the brilliant ideas was the idea for the installation of water fountains in towns to encourage people to refill water bottles, deposit return schemes where people can recycle plastic in exchange for small amounts of money, the elimination of plastic bags and plastic straws and a discount on hot drinks if people supply their own cups.

Sarah Wollaston said this was a great opportunity to listen to the children’s ideas to improve the local area and she even said she’d take some of the ideas back to Parliament with her.

While the older children were creating their manifestos, the reception class were out collecting plastic and rubbish from around the school grounds. They posed for a photograph with their collected plastic waste which will then be sent to Blue Peter.

To add to their busy day, on Friday morning, the pupils created posters in aid of the Plastic Clever campaign to highlight two key aspects.

Half the posters were imaginatively drawn to try and stop water balloons being thrown into the estuary and the other half were created to encourage the people of Salcombe to be Plastic Clever.

These posters will help Anna Turns in her mission alongside daughter, Ella to encourage the people in Salcombe to think more responsibly about single-use plastic to reduce the marine litter along the coastline of the AONB.

Head teacher, Andy explained how the school has already been working hard to reduce their use of single use plastic and an eco-council is going to be created take this ambition to the next stage.

Working alongside Anna, Andy is hoping to secure a grant from the town council to buy the children reusable water containers which will reduce the use of plastic water bottles.

“We want to help the children understand that this town is their future and we all need to protect it” he added.

“It’s great to see that the children are so enthusiastic about the campaign and already thinking of great ideas to protect the environment from further damage from plastic waste.”