London,
11
July
2016
|
16:55
Europe/London

Going green at Camden’s schools

School children from across the borough gathered at Camden Town Hall on Wednesday 6 July to celebrate projects that creatively raise awareness and actively involve students in creating a greener, healthier and more beautiful place to live.

The Greener School Awards are part of Camden in Bloom 2016. These awards aim to encourage residents, schools, businesses and community groups to take pride in their neighbourhood and rewards them for making Camden a more pleasant, cleaner, greener and healthier place to be. 

There are two competitions, one for residents and businesses, and the other a competition for schools. We have once again partnered with Project Dirt to build on the success of previous year’s competitions.

Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Environment and Councillor Richard Cotton, Deputy Mayor presented the awards to the winners.There were five categories in the competition this year.

For each category, there was a first and second prize with the category of ‘Greenest School’ being the overall winner.

  • Energy efficiency: First prize – Argyle Primary School. Second prize – The Cavendish School.
  • Biodiversity: First prize - Rhyl Primary School. Second prize - Eleanor Palmer School.
  • Healthy start award for food growing: First prize - St Paul's CE Primary School. Second prize (joint) - Rhyl Primary School and Argyle Primary School.
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle: First prize - Sarum Hall School. Second prize (joint) - Torriano School and La Sainte Union.
  • Greenest school: Rhyl Primary School.

Councillor Richard Cotton, Deputy Mayor said: “I would like to congratulate all the Camden schoolchildren and their teachers who took part, for doing their best to make Camden greener and helping make the environment, in which we all live, work and study a more pleasant place to be.”

Councillor Meric Apak, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Environment said:“The high standard of the competition once again shows the hard work and commitment that has gone into every school’s entry.

“These projects bring the students together and help them to understand these important issues and learn some useful skills. The schools are championing great projects that creatively raise awareness and actively involve students in creating a greener, healthier and more beautiful place to live.

“The Awards are Camden Council's way of rewarding students, teachers and schools for their outstanding efforts.”

The photograph shows Children from Rhyl Primary School, winners of the Greenest School award, with former Blue Peter Gardener Chris Collins, who presented the award. From left to right, Amariah, Lily, Kaiya, Charlie, Lyra and Jonathan.

The business and residential competition is open for entries until 17 July 2016, you can apply now here. Winners will be announced in August, with an award ceremony in September.