Eco-friendly pupils at a Derby secondary school have been making small changes to their lives as part of a climate change awareness project.
Year seven and eight pupils at Alvaston Moor Academy – formerly Merrill Academy, in Bracken’s Lane – pledged to switch off their television sets or take shorter showers for a fortnight in a bid to reduce their carbon emissions.
The project was part of the BBC’s Blue Peter Green Badge scheme, which encourages young people to become Climate Heroes by committing to a power, plastics or plant pledge for two weeks.
Laima, a year seven pupil at the school, said her pledge had been to switch off her computer for half an hour a day, choosing to go outside instead. She also grew plants to help attract bees.
Laima, year seven pupil, holding the Blue Peter Climate Heroes certificate.
“Although it’s a little thing, I think it’s important,” she said.
Fellow year seven pupil Jayden said he had also been spending time planting in the garden and had reduced his shower time from 15 minutes to five.
He said: “It helps the whole planet as well. It has a big impact, even though it is small. We’re trying to keep the planet in an OK state.”
Guided by the scheme pupils were asked to turn off an electrical device when they had finished using it, rather than leaving it on standby, or swap half an hour of screen time for 30 minutes of outdoor time.
They were encouraged to switch from plastic food wrappings to a lunchbox, or to help sort out the rubbish recycling at home.
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The final pledge was to plant pollinator friendly plants, such as marigold, chives or sunflower seeds and looks after them, encouraging bees and butterflies to thrive, or to save water by turning off the taps when brushing their teeth.
The group of pupils then made a ‘super pledge’ to turn off equipment around the school when not in use, encouraging teachers to do the same.
They produced artwork inspired by their studies and are now waiting to hear whether they have been awarded their prestigious Blue Peter Green badges.
The kilos of carbon saved by the children at Merrill Academy will be added to the Blue Peter Totaliser, which currently stands at a massive 70,965 kilos.
Merrill Academy’s vice principal Grace Hoskins said: “We were really impressed with how enthusiastic all our pupils were in taking part in this challenge and we very much hope that they will be rewarded with their Blue Peter badges.
“We try to make green living a part of everyday school life by considering the environment in everything we do, but it is great to embed this in our students from the earliest years.
“Staff work hard to empower and motivate pupils to drive change and improve environmental awareness in their local community and beyond and we think they have made some brilliant Climate Heroes.”
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