CHILDREN and teachers at a pre-school are delighted to be awarded Bronze Eco-School status as part of a global environmental action and learning programme

Clare Dalton, director at St Peters Seedlings Pre-School, said: “We are very excited about our Eco-School award and empowering our children to improve and help the environment.

“Congratulations to all the staff and children. It’s the first important step on our way to Eco-Schools Green Flag level, an internationally-recognised award for excellence.”

St Peters Seedlings Pre-School started its eco-journey by taking part in community litter picking, planting insect-friendly plants in their garden to promote biodiversity and looking after the roses in the flower beds opposite the village hall.

Ms Dalton said that “children are never too young to become eco-warriors.”

Manager Zaina Shaukat added: “All of the children, staff and families involved in St Peters Seedlings Pre-school have really embraced the eco changes. Parents and carers have risen to the challenge by providing rubbish free packed lunches.”

The pre-school, based at St Peter’s Village Hall, has created an ‘eco-action plan’ and established an Eco-Committee.

Three-year old Matilda Manning who sits on the committee as the children’s representative said: “We put our fruit and vegetable peelings in the compost just like we do at home.”

There is also a new addition to the pre-school family, Charlie, the compost bin.

Ms Dalton said that Charlie is loved by all the children and is used to collect vegetable and fruit peelings from the children’s lunch boxes and cooking sessions. The pre-school is also working in partnership with ‘Be The Change’ vegan café which is based in the Cornmarket, in Worcester.

Be The Change supplied the pre-school with their Christmas meal last year, and provides a sustainable plant based lunch menu for the children each week.

Eco-Schools is operated globally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and is managed in England by Keep Britain Tidy.