Mini Eco-Warriors Adopt Task Force Schools Charter

Glasgow pupils are becoming eco-warriors by adopting a new Schools Charter pledging to help protect and preserve their local areas.

The city's Environmental Task Force is inviting schools to pledge support for a new initiative as part of efforts to keep the city clean and enhance the environment.

Schools which sign up to the Charter will commit to doing a minimum of three environmental activities a year including one community clean up and enhance their eco-schools projects.

Anderston Primary School became the first to adopt the Task Force Charter when Councillor Frank McAveety visited to hear about all the good work they already do around sustainability and the environment.

Pupils at the school carry out regular community clean-ups with support from the Task Force as well as recycling their waste. The school also has an outdoor classroom, an orchard and planters where the young people grow fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Liz Hendry, Anderston Head Teacher, said: "The school's Eco-Committee is very proactive and jumped at the opportunity to consolidate the work they do to improve the environment by adopting the Charter.

"Sustainability and the environment are important parts of the curriculum and subjects which the pupils are very enthusiastic about. Signing up to the Charter demonstrates how seriously the school takes these issues and it will inspire the pupils to start planning their spring activities."

Schools signing up to the Charter will receive a raised bed or planter built by Community Safety Glasgow from wood recycled from fallen trees in the city's parks. After their first year of Charter activities, schools will also receive a personalised Task Force award marking their achievements.

Councillor McAveety said: "Glasgow's young people are the city's future and they play a huge role in caring for their environment. This Charter recognises the hard work pupils and teachers do around environmental issues.

"As a former teacher, I know that so much valuable work goes on in schools to encourage pupils to be proactive on sustainability.

"I was really impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of the pupils I met at Anderston Primary and I'm sure that other schools across the city will be quick to adopt it too."

Councillor Frank McAveety is pictured with pupils from Anderston Primary which is the first school to adopt the new Environmental Task Force Schools Charter.