GREEN teamers have yet another new school to welcome today.

And Clyst Heath Primary has hit the ground running.

Even before their tree and first batch of leaves arrived, pupils were surging ahead with their Green team activities; getting the pond ready for the next generation of frogs and clearing out the raised beds ready for what they hope will be the best growing season ever.

Jeremy Davy, who oversees the Green team, said: "What a fantastic opportunity the children will have to learn about environmental issues besides putting lots of this into practice by composting, gardening and of course keeping our school recycling everything we can!"

The school became interested in environmental issues when Louise Harvey, operations manager for Exeter City Council's cleansing services, paid a visit and answered many searching questions on local litter problems.

Evie Willmington, aged nine, reported that they had found all sorts of empty crisp packets and cans when they were doing their bit with their new litter pickers to keep Clyst Heath looking its best.

Indeed, 11-year-old Cameron Hargreaves suggested that people outside the school might like to support the new Green team by helping them pick up litter and put it in the bins!

Sam Sterret, who is 10, reported that the Green team is going to grow vegetables, and litter-pick to make Clyst Heath "super clean and a nice clean place to go to school."

Ten-year-old Josh Crooks was left hoping one of the footballs rescued by the Green team from the pond might be reused in the school playground rather than taking a trip to the landfill site.

Very soon a new work of art will be created in the school and Carmen Elsa Shankla, aged nine, said: "We will be making the sculpture out of cardboard and other items we will collect for recycling around the school." Faith King, 10, believed the new sculpture might even have some electronic bits and pieces which had been collected for recycling.

The many other members of the Green Team from Class 5 were keen to point out that there will be tree saplings to plant and hopefully some excellent vegetables to eat later in the year.

So now they will be getting on with the preparation and planting in the raised beds.

We will look forward to seeing and hearing about the Scrap Man sculpture in a few weeks' time.