Local children are leading the fight against pigeon pests as part of Birmingham City Council’s schools ‘Litter Charter’ campaign.

Led by Environmental Health at Birmingham City Council and supported by Aston Villa Football Club, pupils are spreading the word about litter and the perils of pigeon feeding.

The latest competition in the campaign involved designing a new poster that will then be reproduced on the side of refuse lorries, to raise awareness amongst residents about how dropping food to feed pigeons encourages rodents.

Second prize went to Niyran Gill (11), a year 6 pupil at St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Hamstead Road, Handsworth. Niyran and his classmates will receive an education day at Villa Park.

Niyran Gill's Prize Winning Poster

 Lynne Tandy, Education and Environment Officer at Birmingham City Council, comments:

“The council gets a number of complaints about feral pigeons, who depend largely on the general public for their food. The Warden Service and Regulatory Services Pest Control Team have been out and about around local parks to raise awareness. This problem is growing and getting the children involved in campaigns like this is a really effective way of getting the message back to their parents and the rest of the city.”