SCHOOLCHILDREN are celebrating after being handed a coveted award in recognition of their environmental efforts.
Holmwood House School, in Colchester, has received an Eco School Green Flag from the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign.
It reflects the school’s determination to make a difference and recognises the tireless work of its eco-committee.
Pupils identified three action points to work towards - composting food waste, growing their own vegetables and switching off lights in empty rooms.
Going green - children in the Reception class show their support for the Essex Wildlife Trust
They agreed on an eco-code for the whole school of “turn the switch, plant our own, save the waste to regrow our home” to reflect their targets.
The green flag award came at the end of a special eco week, during which pupils focused on sustainability.
A variety of environmental issues were promoted during a fun-packed few days.
Initiatives included an inter-class recycled art competition, a meat-free menu and all children coming into school dressed in green to raise money for the Essex Wildlife Trust.
What a vic-tree - Holmwood House's eco-committee, when they planted their 420 Woodland Trust trees
The school also ran a landscape photography competition to encourage the children to look carefully at the environment around them.
Another major initiative was asking families to recycle or rehome children’s books, which the school will be donating to the Children’s Book Project.
Prior to the special themed week, staff and pupils dedicated a Saturday morning to creating a new hedgerow, by planting 420 saplings received from the Woodland Trust.
Read all about it - the school's eco-committee with the Children's Book Project books
Headmaster Alexander Mitchell said: “Great fun was had all week, but the serious issues we’ve been looking at seemed particularly aptly timed in light of the climate change committee’s recent report that the UK is woefully unprepared for the impact of climate change.
“We hope our efforts make a significant difference to the work of charities like the Children’s Book Project, but also that our pupils have taken away some thought-provoking ideas around sustainability and the importance of protecting our planet.”
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