Stroud District Council’s Litter and Clean Environment Champion, Councillor Gill Thomas, has enlisted the help of local schoolchildren to launch a new campaign to help protect the district’s commons.
The campaign, titled Common Sense on the Commons, was launched at Leonard Stanley Primary School, where pupils were invited to design colourful posters encouraging people to take better care of the commons, especially during the busy summer months.
“I got the idea whilst cycling along Minchinhampton Common,” said Cllr Thomas. “There was so much litter strewn along the roadside, I thought to myself, why don’t people have more common sense?”
The campaign highlights the importance of small everyday actions - like taking litter home, picking up after dogs, and keeping them on leads where needed - to help protect the commons, which are rich in wildlife and provide vital habitats for ground nesting birds such as the endangered skylark and other creatures.
April, aged ten, whose artwork was used in the campaign said:
“I wanted to make this poster with my friends because we want to keep the environment safe up on the common. We really want to care for all of the animals and make sure that they are all protected and also give members of public an enjoyable space.
“My friends and I wanted the poster to stand out and make it understandable for others. Our poster includes what we thought were big problems such as picking up your dog’s mess, not leaving litter, being and mindful of your cars on the road and be careful of the birds nesting. I hope you like it.”
Cllr Thomas added:
“I’d like to say a huge thank you to the pupils and teachers at Leonard Stanley School for creating the posters and supporting this campaign. Our natural spaces are precious, and we all have a role to play in protecting and respecting nature. Small actions like these help keep our green spaces safe, clean and enjoyable for everyone - it’s just common sense!”
Stroud District Council manages and maintains Selsley Common, where four of the pupils’ poster designs have been turned into official signs. These will be displayed throughout the school summer holidays to remind visitors to treat the commons with care.
The campaign supports one of the key objectives in the Council Plan: to reduce the amount of litter and fly-tipped waste across the district.
Cllr Martin Pearcy, Chair of Stroud District Council Environment Committee said:
“The Common Sense on the Commons Campaign is a timely and creative initiative aimed at tackling persistent littering on our local commons. Inspired by real concerns about the growing volume of food-on-the-go waste and other rubbish left behind, it delivers important messages about responsible behaviour in shared natural spaces”
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