Top environment award for county council
Warwickshire County Council scooped a top award for Environmental Education and Training at a ceremony in the Tower of London.
At the ceremony on Friday, November 3, the council beat bronze, silver and gold finalists to gain the title of ‘Green Champion’ for Environmental Education and Training for its Eco Schools Programme.
Competition came from businesses and organisations throughout the UK, and the county council was heralded as the leader in Education and Training.
The Green Apple Environmental Awards are an annual international campaign to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world. Warwickshire’s programme won the award for its work in many areas, including developing partnerships between state and independent schools, promoting European partnership working and supporting the implementation of county council strategies, such as the Warwickshire Climate Change Strategy.
The aim of Eco Schools in Warwickshire is to make the county’s schools exemplars of sustainable development, and to use the programme as a vehicle to implement Education for Sustainable Development into its schools. The county now boasts 47% of its schools involved with the scheme and this number is continually increasing. Also, 39% having obtained prestigious awards, and all this has been achieved in less than 24 months.
Cllr Martin Heatley, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “This award demonstrates that Warwickshire County Council is committed to providing the very best environmental education for its schools.
“It also confirms the close partnership working and understanding we have with schools about their environment. This is displayed throughout the whole of Warwickshire by schools carrying out environmental actions such as energy and waste reduction. We make no excuses for striving to provide schools with the best possible tools and education for a sustainable future.”
Barbara Golding, Eco Schools Officer for Warwickshire County Council who collected the award said: “I was extremely honoured to receive the award, and I would like to say thank you to all Warwickshire schools who have worked so hard to improve their environment. Without them the award would not have been possible, and I send my heartfelt thanks to them all.”