A YOUNGSTER who was upset to see so much litter in her community, took charge and organised a successful litter-picking event.

Harriett Wilson, a Year 8 student at Richmond School & Sixth Form College,is already a keen charity fundraiser and decided to take action after becoming dismayed at the litter left around her Middleton Tyas community.

The 13-year-old independently made all the arrangements for a community litter pick, posting a couple of articles in the local village newsletter to involve other residents.

She also liaised directly with Richmondshire District Council who supplied litter pickers, hi-vis jackets and bin bags.

The event was a huge success; more than a dozen residents supported Harriett and 12 bin bags full of litter were collected in Middleton Tyas and its outskirts.

Harriet said: “I am very grateful to the people in the community that came out and helped with the litter pick, it wouldn’t have been a success without them.”

Harriett is passionate about protecting animals and the environment and has fundraised for charities including the Save Our Seas Foundation and the RSPCA.

She has a great love of sea life and is extremely concerned about the risk posed by the vast amount of plastic pollution in the environment.

She wrote to Rishi Sunak, her local MP, to express her concerns, putting forward ideas of how to address this.

In her letter to Mr Sunak, Harriett also expressed her worries about the problem of plastic and litter in our towns and roadsides, which is both harmful to wildlife and the environment.

Harriett was very pleased with Mr Sunak’s response, who took the time to explain a variety of measures that the government has already put in place to reduce plastic waste and litter as well as other initiatives for the future.

Jenna Potter, Richmond School headteacher, said: “Harriett has amazed me with her drive and passion to help others.

"I am so impressed that she independently made all the arrangements for the litter pick, liaising with the relevant organisations to ensure it was carried out safely.

"She demonstrates levels of independence and maturity that are way beyond her years, showing such respect for her community and the environment as a whole.”

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