GREEN-FINGERED staff, pupils and parents at a Rossendale school have been recognised for their efforts with a prestigious award.

St John with St Michael CE Primary School in Shawforth has been awarded a gold award by the Woodland Trust for getting involved in green activities including tree planting, visiting a local woodland, reducing carbon emissions and recycling.

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The Green Tree Schools initiative, which has seen more than 7,000 schools sign up since it was launched in 2008, offers the opportunity to bring the great outdoors, wildlife and green issues into the classroom.

Schools win awards for participating in green activities, which include tree planting, reducing carbon emissions and recycling.

Children and parents from St John with St Michael CE, alongside members of the community, have planted new trees in their school grounds and in the area, visited nearby woods, been on nature walks, built a bug hotel, installed solar panels and reduced their carbon emissions among other various Woodland Trust activities.

Miss Kenyon, teaching assistant and Eco-Schools co-ordinator at the school, said: “It has taken a lot of hard work and good connections with parents and members of our community to help the children understand the importance of trees in our world.

“We want the children to understand sustainability and be Eco-Warriors of the future generations.”

Karen Letten, Woodland Trust schools communications manager, said: “The scheme promotes a range of opportunities, each designed to stimulate a child’s imagination and sustain their interest in woods and trees.

“The achievements of the school are recognised through an awards scheme in which they receive points for taking part in activities.

“As they reach milestones within the project they will receive bronze, silver and finally an attractive wooden plaque which acknowledges they’ve achieved the accolade of a gold award.”

Visit: woodlandtrust.org.uk/schools.