Schools rise to challenge of Eco awards

BY RACHEL SHAW LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

ONE of the most inspiring days of the year for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is the finals of the Lincolnshire Young Environmental Awards.

This is when groups of children tell us about what they are doing to make their local and the global environment better for all of us. The Awards are organised by the Rotary Club of Lindum, Lincoln and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and are sponsored by FCC Environment.

They recognise and reward young people under the age of 13 who have shown outstanding dedication to environmental causes.

Six finalists were shortlisted and visited by the panel of judges, then invited to share displays and presentations of their projects at Whisby Nature Park, Lincoln, in late May.

The judges ultimately chose Hawthorn Tree School’s Grow with Nature Club (pictured above) for the enthusiasm and individual initiative of its members, and their success in involving the wider community.

The winning project began after a nursery moved location, leaving the Boston school with a new outside area that was just mud and concrete.

A competition was run to come up with a garden design and many of the students had a very similar vision - for wildlife-friendly and sensory spaces, and places for planting and growing, as well as outdoor learning and teamwork. The club was created to turn those ideas into reality.

“The children at Hawthorn Tree have been there from the very start,” explained judge Linda Benson. “They have been making things happen, thinking and acting independently.”

George, 11, spent a whole weekend contacting everyone he knew to ask if they had any unwanted equipment they might donate.

The request snowballed and the club gratefully received everything from plant pots and tools to a rainwater butt.

Recycling and upcycling has been a big part of the project.

“I used wood from our old kitchen to build a bird table like a mini picnic bench for the birds that don’t use the high feeders,” George said. “And we’re growing herbs in an old tractor tyre.”

Hawthorn Tree teacher Nicola Ingamells SAID “I’m just really proud. It was the passion the children have for making their plans a reality that spurred me on to join in. We’re still in the early days but everything they envisioned for the space, they can see taking shape, and to have that recognised is fantastic,” she said.

“It shows them that they’re having an impact.”

The club is now so popular within the school that children attend on rotation and there is a waiting list to get involved.

“I joined to help wildlife and learn about gardening. I was surprised and overwhelmed to hear the judges say our name,” said Arturis, nine.

“Some of the displays and presentations from other schools were so creative.”

Adult Award Scheme

Now it’s the turn of the adults. The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards are open for entries.

If you have been involved with a project that has introduced positive changes that really make a difference, you should enter. By doing so you may inspire others to follow in your footsteps and take action themselves.

There’s more information and entries can be made online at: lincsenvironmentalawards.org.uk