Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, met with green-fingered youngsters from Brampton’s William Howard School, who showed him why they’ve recently won a nation environmental prize.
From growing their own produce and caring for livestock to classroom recycling and locally-sourced canteen food, Brampton’s young people have excelled themselves with environmental efforts, being awarded an Eco-Schools Green Flag Award (with Distinction) in recognition of all they do.
Dr Hudson’s visit coincided with Sustainability Week, where children were able to discover more about how they can better protect the environment from climate change.
Led by English teacher, Liz Brereton, the fantastic work being done cascades down through the age groups with older pupils teaching younger students, giving all involved responsibilities to better achieve the school’s environmental aims.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
“As I said to students and staff, their ecological achievements are truly heart-warming and I cannot congratulate them enough. The Open Spaces Garden is full of life and the animals are being really well looked after.
“It was also heartening to hear that the environmental ethos of the school stretched across the curriculum, wider school decisions, and the student body.
“Ultimately the youngsters I met understood that they are the ones who will inherit the changing climate and are already taking incredible steps to make sure they leave our precious landscapes in a better state than when they found them. With that said, I felt really inspired leaving them, seeing their environmentalism up-close made me much more optimistic about the future of the planet.
“Moreover, from a mental-health perspective it was great to hear from children that they had the space to breath and think things through among the greenery of the project. This links to my work down in Westminster, where I’ve been shining a light on Rural Mental Health as part of an official Inquiry by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, on which I am proud to sit.
“Congratulations again to everyone, the students were a testament to their families and school. Thank you for having me.”
Elizabeth Brereton (pictured), the English teacher who has led the environmental push, added:
“It was a great pleasure for the students and myself to tour Mr Hudson around the Open Spaces small holding area. The students greatly valued his very obvious interest. It is extremely important that young people understand how ministers can, and do, appreciate the environment, and fight for its preservation”
