Stone schools show the way at Green Awards

St Michael’s First School in Stone scooped top prize for their environmental work at the Stafford Borough Council Green Awards 2013, with other Stone schools also flying high at the awards.

The top eco-friendly businesses and organisations in the borough were announced at the 17th annual ‘Green Awards’ ceremony on Thursday 17th October.

St Michael’s First School in Stone won the ‘Youth and Education’ top prize.

The citation from the judges said: St Michael’s First School have been stalwart environmental activists for many years and have undertaken many excellent projects. Because a new classroom was built on top of the school’s original garden area, they worked hard to rebuild a new one using the original raised beds where they transferred their fruit bushes. They also built a new raised bed for the gardening club to use in which they have grown Pak Choi, sweetcorn, beetroot and sunflowers.

“Small raised beds were built for every class in the school to grow their own selection of vegetables. They have been pond dipping in the school pond and have arranged talks to the children about recycling, waste and climate change and have been involved in many, many other green initiatives for the school.”

And St Michael’s wasn’t the only Stone school to be recognised – Springfields First School in Yarnfield won the Wildlife Award for their bog garden, Meaford Day Nursery won Best Newcomer for their restoration project and Manor Hill First School in Walton were commended for their school pond restoration project.

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A great result all round for Stone schools’ environmental work with their children!

All the winners received their certificates from the Mayor of Stafford Borough, Councillor Angela Loughran. Full details of all the awards are available at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/green-awards

Councillor Frank Finlay, cabinet member for environment and health, said: “These awards reward forward-thinking businesses and other agencies and organisations for their initiatives. Many of the projects are not just about being environmentally friendly, they also save money, something every smart business or organisation will want to be involved in.”