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Poole Schools Go Green

Borough of Poole has launched an exciting new award scheme to inspire local schools to 'go green' and help protect the environment.

The Schools' Environment Award has been developed to foster children's sense of responsibility for their environment and encourage them to reduce, re-use and recycle, as well as saving energy at school and at home.

Developed by Borough of Poole's Environmental and Consumer Protection Services (E&CPS), the scheme will aim to make positive and lasting changes to Poole's environment.

Pupils and teachers will be encouraged to think about cleanliness, recycling and reducing waste.

Six Poole schools have agreed to take part in the first phase of the new award scheme. They will be required to monitor litter levels in and around the school grounds, reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and reduce the amount of energy and water used.

Cllr Don Collier, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Borough of Poole, said: "We hope the new award scheme will encourage children to see the importance of being a good citizen and help them identify the dangers of litter to themselves, wildlife and the environment. We will support schools to make improvements that can be followed through for years to come so that the changes will have a lasting effect on the schools and future generations of pupils."

The six schools taking part in the first phase of the award are Merley First, Sylvan First, Longfleet CE VC Combined, Branksome Heath Middle, Corfe Hills Secondary and Montacute Special. The second phase of the scheme will be made available to more schools in October 2008.

Alan Hinchliffe, Headteacher of Corfe Hills School, said: "The students at Corfe Hills are taking a genuine interest in environmental issues. The Schools' Environment Award Scheme presents an opportunity to work towards clear targets for improving schools impact on the local environment."

A cherry tree was planted at Sylvan First School to mark the launch of the first phase of the award scheme. Classes at the school are named after trees, including silver birch, beech, willow, pine and cherry, and it is hoped that, in time, a tree representing each class name will be planted within the school grounds.

E&CPS has developed the Schools' Environment Award with help from officers from Borough of Poole's Leisure Services and Healthy Schools team. The award is also being supported by Lush Hand Made Cosmetics.

Ruth Andrade, Environment Officer for Lush, said: "Lush has always been committed to good environmental practices and we can't wait to start working with Poole schools to help them achieve the award."

Further information about the award scheme is available at www.boroughofpoole.com/schoolsenvironmentaward

Ian Turner, Media Relations Officer
Tel: 01202 633295