PUPILS WIN AWARD FOR GREEN DESIGNS

July 27 2004

Youngsters at a Birmingham school have won a Connexions award for creating a nature trail from what was formerly waste land, at the side of their school, with the help of a local housing organisation.

Bournville Village Trust (BVT) tree wardens, visited greenfingered children from Ley Hill Primary School in Northfield to teach them how to construct bird boxes and how to present their design of a nature trail. The 7-10 years old pupils attended workshops about presentation skills, design and problem solving and then presented their portfolio to a judging panel from Northfield Connexions.

Tony Howells, Chief Education Officer at Birmingham City Council presented the children with a framed certificate and awarded Bournville Village Trust with a prize for the major part the organisation had played in implementing the project. Severn Trent, who owns the land is now developing the nature trail in accordance with the winning design.

Gloria Gain from BVT said: "We are always endeavouring to keep alive the green ethos of our founder, George Cadbury, helping children have a respect for, and to care for nature, with the hope that they will grow up to become actively involved in caring and protecting the environment in which they live."