ECO warriors have been called to arms in the fight to make the world a greener place.
Children from Barnard Castle Preparatory School came up with the perfect way to boost their popular forest school – by planting scores of trees in their own grounds.
They also embarked on work to retain their Green Flag status first achieved last year with a variety of sustainable projects.
Forest school leader and teacher Katie Shearn said: “Everything from reusing old Christmas jumpers to staging a bric-a-brac sale has been designed to minimise waste. We have also been planting trees and picking litter and the Eco warriors have been working on designs for a reusable coffee cup for parents.
“The children love it and are passionate about anything environmental. They have also been working with students from the senior school and it’s great to mix the age groups. We have launched a mini-eco warrior group where year 1 and 2 pupils work with year 5 and 6 children on litter picking and making bird feeders.
“It is so good for the mental wellbeing of children and teachers being outside, even in all weathers, and you see a different side of the children outdoors.”
Teaching assistant Kimberly Raper added: “We mix up the children so they can make new friendships and often the pupils who are quiet in class are much chattier outdoors.
“Picking litter with the grabbers improves pupils’ motor skills, they learn to share the equipment and develop their team building skills. We talk about the impact of the litter, much of which blows in from the public footpath, on the wildlife in the hedgerows so the activity goes much deeper than just being tidy.”