The Tower Hamlets Waste Education Project works with local schools to raise awareness of issues to do with waste and the environment. As part of this project, schools regularly take photographs of their local environment and produce exhibitions of their work. Here are some recent ones..

In 2001 around 400 children aged between 6 and 10 photographed the environment around their local school.

Pupils were able to learn about the principals of waste minimisation and the problems faced by the Council in disposing of waste.

Pupils selected their favourite photographs, commented on them, and suggested ways of improving their local environment.

Some schools mapped out the route they took for their environmental audit and produced a classroom display.

As a result of the project pupils became keenly aware of their own responsibility towards the environment and became familiar with the options open to them for minimising waste. Photography enabled pupils to examine their environment from an entirely new perspective. Teachers welcomed the project.

William Stratford, St John the Baptist School

"This photograph was taken over the wall by the tracks of Bethnal Green train station. I like this photograph because it shows a picture of positive and negative scenes. On the negative side there are many different objects dumped on some grass. There is also a skip and some cars on the right hand side. However this photograph is also positive because on the left-hand side of the photograph the buildings are old but in very good condition. People not throwing litter on the ground could improve the environment around my school. It could also be improved by people not spraying graffiti on perfectly good walls".

What are the dangers of different objects being dumped on grass?

Winifred Okacha, St John the Baptist School

"This is a photograph of a drinking fountain in Bethnal Green gardens. I think it is a positive image because it is a beautiful piece of garden furniture. Nonetheless, we could argue that it is negative because it is old quite dilapidated and doesn't work! People taking more care with dangerous, waste of space, litter, could improve our environment. We could also encourage schoolmates not to mess around with trees and abandoned cars. We could stop graffiti and recycle. Keep dogs away from pavements and have dog bins in every park".

Are there any old monuments like the drinking fountain in the photograph near where you live? If so what do they tell you about the way people used to live?

Laura Reed, St John the Baptist School

"This is my favourite photograph of a park (Bethnal Green Gardens) with lots of flowers, plants and trees. I think the pollution from cars can't be good for the plants, flowers and trees".

How can car pollution affect the health of people living in cities?

Kadika Edwards, St John the Baptist School

"This car has been dumped next to a sign telling people not to dump rubbish. The car is burnt and dangerous and can attract children".

The metal from this car could be recycled. What other metal items have you seen on the street that could be recycled and made into something else?

Samuel Rouse, St John the Baptist School

"This is a picture of some dog mess on the side of the road that is dangerous because someone might slip on it or a little baby might eat or pick it up".

In most cities dog owners are supposed to clear up the mess they leave. Are there 'dog bins' in the parks in your area?

Sabina Shapla, Stewart Headlam School

"I like this photograph because I can see trees and two houses with lots of windows and some chimneys. I also like the blue sky with the clouds in it."

In London in the 1950's the sky was sometimes blocked out by pollution. How can we reduce air pollution in our cities?

Hassan, Stewart Headlam School

"This is a negative picture of the environment. The metal sticking out from the wall is sharp and dangerous. It could hurt a small child. They could cut their finger".

The corrugated iron in the photograph encloses some 'waste land' that is not being used. Is there 'waste land' near your home? What would you like to see unused land in your area used for?

Leonie, St John the Baptist School

"This picture was taken in Victoria Park. I like it because it shows beautiful plants growing well because of the way people look after them. You can see a gardener in the distance".

Robert Morris, Lawdale School

"I like this photograph because it shows an old cart that has been used for moving things on the market for years. It does not pollute the environment or use up fuel from the ground".

How many forms of transport can you think of that don't use fossil fuels?

Imram Ali, Chisenhale School

"This picture was taken on the Roman Road near the Savoy Plaice fish bar. On the one hand it is negative because it is a construction site but the new building will make it look better. The Roman Road is a popular place because people go there to buy things from the many shops and stores. Litter, graffiti and plastic bags in trees can spoil the road but on the whole I would recommend the road to relatives and family because to me it is a friendly place".

Do you have a favourite road near your home? Why do you like it?

Alex Harrap, Chisenhale School

"I took this picture of this market stall on the Roman Road because I liked all the different colours and it shows some of the many different things you can buy. You can buy almost anything in the Roman Road market".

Is there a market in a road near you? How are markets different from shops?

Martin Griffin, Chisenhale School

"This is a negative photograph because vandals have destroyed this old abandoned pub. Look at the windows, they have been smashed to pieces. The pub will probably be converted into something new, which is a good thing. The Roman Road is always changing and that makes it an interesting place."

Sabina Shapla, Blue Gate Fields School

"This is a tree in a space where children play near our school. Somme one has left some sharp metal wire on the floor and this has got caught up with the tree. A child could cut their finger with the wire. This would not happen if the wire was put in a bin or recycled."

Kim, St John the Baptist School

"I took this picture to show how careless people can be with rubbish. Some one has just thrown this orange peel onto the road when it should have gone into the litter bin. Also the orange is organic so it could have been put into a composter. There is always some litter near our school so I think we need some more bins. The environment around our school is generally good because I like the tall trees very much."

Sarah, St John the Baptist School

"This is my favourite photograph of a woman with her dog in Victoria Park. The dog is on a lead and it is also obedient because the woman in the photograph told the dog to sit down and it did straight away. This indicated that the dog is trained very well. To improve the environment around our school people should use bins for litter and also people should clear up the mess from their dogs."

Clara Phiklpott, St John the Baptist School

"I like this photograph because it shows the green of Bethnal Green gardens. The trees are not cut down - it is safe for them and for us. The trees also clean the air and give us oxygen."

Luthfur, St Johns School

"I like all the bright colours on this Mural. It brightens the area up and also tells a story in pictures. I think the photograph looks good with the railings."

Could a mural improve the area you live in? How can art improve the environment?

Tell us what you think below

Sam, St John the Baptist School

"My favourite photograph shows Regents canal which runs next to Victoria Park. This is a really positive photograph because it is full of grass and trees and I like the reflections in the water."

The Regents Canal was opened at 11a.m. On 1st August 1820. You can find out more about Canals at www.canalmuseum.org.uk

Henna, Blue Gate Fields School

"I like this photograph because the water is so calm and looks so clean. Canary Wharf is in the distance. The people who live near the river are very lucky because the flats are so expensive. After I took the photograph I looked closely at the river and the water was dirty with a lot of rubbish in it."

The picture shows the river Thames taken from Wapping. How can we make our rivers cleaner?
Tell us what you think below

Nazmul, Elizabeth Selby School

"I asked this man if I could take his photograph and he was OK about it. He is homeless and was reading the Times newspaper. He has made a seat for himself from a milk crate and a piece of board."

If the newspaper is put into a paper recycling bin then it could be made into newsprint and used again for printing another newspaper. Do you recycle your newspaper so that trees are not wasted?

Daniel, St Johns School

"I took this picture because it shows piles of rubbish waiting to be collected. I think the streets would be full of bags of rubbish if it wasn't collected each week."

The bags of rubbish in the picture will be sent to a landfill site and buried in the ground. Is there a better way of getting rid of our rubbish?

WHAT DO THESE IMAGES MAKE YOU THINK OF THE EAST END?

Tell us what you think below