A Ledbury school has won a UN initiative to combat the growing problem of plastic pollution.
Ashperton Primary School is one of only four schools across the UK to be named as a winner of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals competition.
The competition itself took place back in December when schools around the country were challenged to have a plastic-free Christmas.
Pupils made a sustainable Christmas tree from scraps of material, decorations out of paper and pompoms, and chose not to send Christmas cards.
Caroline Bullock, deputy headteacher at Ashperton Primary School, said: “The competition fits so well with what we believe as a school and ideas we are trying to build with our link school in Tanzania too.
“We know we need to make our next generation understand the importance of looking after people, animals and our planet.”
Mrs Bullock said that instead of cutting down a Christmas tree, pupils at Ashperton and at its link school in Karangai helped to plant more than 400 trees.
“We try to get our whole community involved with our ideas and acts,” she added.
“Parents were invited in to plant trees, our children held a peaceful climate protest while on their residential and we have invited our local MP in to voice our concerns to him as well as writing letters.
Tackling plastic pollution
“We have made a huge display from recycled bottled lids that all our visitors see. Some lids have been collected from England and some are from Tanzania.
“Karangai have shown us how to make skipping ropes from plastic bottle rims and how they recycle water bottles in their country.”
The sustainability competition was run by the Centre for Big Synergy, part of the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs in London.
Dr Sourav Roy, the centre’s CEO, said: “Ashperton Primary School is a shining example of the power of schools, teachers and children to lead the road for a plastic free future.
“Initiatives such as the Plastic Free Christmas 2021 help us access the true impact of education and government policy on behavioural change of the wider society as far as plastic pollution is concerned.
“Whilst we see positive changes, it is still a long way to get everyone on board.”
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