Brownies gain badge for tackling dog fouling
Janice BrownA group of Brownies has been awarded badges after completing a messy mission to clean up dog waste.
The 1st Wetheral Brownies in Cumbria carried out Operation Together United for Responsible Dog Ownership (Turd) after realising dog fouling was becoming a problem in the village.
Within just one 200m (660ft) stretch, the 26 Brownies found 29 piles of dog mess, which they marked using flags designed with laminated poo emojis.
Group leader Janice Brown, known as Tawny Owl, said the girls were "extremely shocked" at finding so much waste and their first thought was to "write to the King" about the problem.
"We thought that was a bit extreme," Ms Brown said.
Instead, the Brownies decided to contact Cumberland Council about the issue and the troop created banners to promote anti-fouling in the area.
Irresponsible grown-ups
For taking part in Operation Turd, the Brownies were awarded their Speak Out badge, which is earned for working to solve an issue they feel strongly about.
Despite the unhygienic nature of the waste, the children, who are aged between seven and 10, were not put off during their mission.
"We weren't asking them to touch it or pick it up as that would have been a health issue," Ms Brown said.
"But they were genuinely curious as to how much there was and they couldn't believe the grown-ups were so irresponsible."
The Brownies had a meeting with officers from Cumberland Council where they were able to make suggestions about how to tackle dog fouling.
They were also taught about the harm dog fouling can do, including how cows can choke on bags of waste left behind by irresponsible pet owners.
The council's executive member for sustainable, resilient and connected places, Denise Rollo, said the 1st Wetheral Brownies had "real pride in where they live".
"Their actions set a powerful example for all of us," she said, adding: "From identifying local issues to engaging directly with dog walkers, they've shown maturity, initiative, and genuine community spirit."
The group has also shown its commitment to their home region by making the shortlist for a competition to design a new community flag for Cumbria.
Their design is one of six shortlisted with a winner to be chosen by the public.