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Welcome Bay Primary School pupils are getting proactive and taking environmental matters into their own hands by mucking in and cleaning up their local estuary and parks.

This morning 47 pupils grabbed rubber gloves and rubbish bags and worked their way through Owens Park, Tye Park and Welcome Bay estuary removing unwanted rubbish, as part of the Welcome Bay Estuary clean-up day.

Welcome Bay Primary School pupils take part in their Welcome Bay Estuary clean-up day.

Co-ordinated by the school, pupils were joined by Tauranga City Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff picking up plastic wrappers, cigarette butts, car tyres and any extra items hidden in the mangroves.

Welcome Bay Primary School teacher Hamish Gavin says the idea was hatched following a year-long focus on the concept of guardianship for both the eight and nine-year-old pupils and the community.

'One of the things they chose was the stream running down the side of the school. But after investigations the problem was too big, too hard and too difficult for just them,” says Hamish.

'So they wrote a letter to Tauranga City Council, which Toby Barach [TCC] answered and came out to take them on a walk around the area so they could show him their concerns.”

Tauranga City Council pollution prevention officer Toby Barach it is the first time council has been personally approached by school pupils following a number of years working in an educational capacity with various schools.

'This came out of the school wanting to do something to look after the area; they are really interested about it,” says Toby.

'After going for a walk with them we talked about what some of the big problems were and one of the big things was the rubbish.”

The enthusiastic pupils were split into three groups, with each group working for about two hours on an area identified as requiring attention.

'It is good to see the kids grow their sense of ownership in the community,” says Hamish.

The clean-up day was supported by the Welcome Bay Community, Welcome Bay Estuary Care Group, Envirohub, Tauranga City Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.