Eco-code’ school flies the Green Flag

WESTFIELD Junior School in St Ives has become only the sixth school in Cambridgeshire to be awarded a prestigious Green Flag for its environmental work. To earn the award, Westfield s pupils developed an eco-code which contained the environmental improv

WESTFIELD Junior School in St Ives has become only the sixth school in Cambridgeshire to be awarded a prestigious Green Flag for its environmental work.

To earn the award, Westfield's pupils developed an 'eco-code' which contained the environmental improvements they wished the school to achieve.

They also made an action plan, which was linked to the curriculum, covering a whole range of environmental areas such as energy, litter, transport, waste and water.

The children then carried out a number of projects including recycling paper, plastic, card and cans. They also started putting fruit peelings in to bins to create compost which is then used to help the crops in their organic garden.

Rainwater was collected in butts to water the school's plants and orchard; children have been involved in planting a traditional fruit orchard which was funded by English Nature.

The school also has its own wildlife pond in the grounds.

Headteacher Stuart McCarthy said: "The awarding of our Green Flag marks the culmination of several years of hard work by the whole school, working collaboratively with many other partners.

"The benefits to the school have been immense and the positive attitude of the pupils in caring for their environment has been recognised by the award."

The project is supported by Huntingdonshire District Council and its chairman, Councillor Phillip Swales, and vice-chairman, Councillor John Davies, visited the school to present the flag to the pupils and see some of their work.