Pupils at Redriff Primary School in Rotherhithe rolled up their sleeves on Friday (25 April) to celebrate their first-ever Earth Day – with a little help from The Wombles.
The full-day event, organised by the school’s eco-council ‘Greenriff’, was supported by The Wombles Community Charity to mark Earth Day 2025. From litter picking and planting wildflowers to learning about composting and responsible waste, children from nursery to Year 6 took part in a packed programme of outdoor activities.
The Wombles Community Charity supported Redriff’s Earth Day celebrations as part of its wider mission to inspire and empower communities for a greener future. By encouraging everyone in the UK to take a more active role in the conservation, protection and improvement of their local environment, the charity is poised to become a leading force in the UK’s environmental movement, proving that small actions can lead to big changes for our planet.
To kick off the day, pupils were joined by a very special guest – Alderney the Womble – for a school grounds litter pick. Pupils in Key Stage 1, along with the school’s expert gardener from charity Global Generation, also helped plant new saplings donated by the Woodland Trust and the Earth Restoration Service, while older pupils took part in environmental learning activities.
The school also used the day as an opportunity to fundraise for new recycling bins to help pupils sort waste more effectively by holding a cake sale and by inviting children to pay £1 and come to school dressed in the “colours of the Earth”. The school’s Earth Day celebrations are part of Redriff’s wider commitment to sustainability, where children from Early Years to year 6 learn about issues such as food production, energy and water security, climate change and fast fashion.
Local MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Neil Coyle and London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark, Marina Ahmad, attended the celebration to meet with pupils and teachers, show their support and join in with some of the outdoor activities led by the children.
Neil Coyle, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said:
“It was fantastic to join pupils and staff at Redriff Primary School for their Earth Day celebrations. It’s truly inspiring to see children taking such pride in their local environment and learning about the importance of sustainability and recycling. I’m always proud to see Southwark’s future taking our environment seriously and see it in all schools locally. This kind of hands-on education is vital to shaping a more environmentally conscious future, and it’s brilliant to see Redriff leading the way.”
