Campaign to Protect Rural England awards local school garden

This is the first year of awards for CPRE Hampshire's Countryside and Design award for 2008, and they are proud to announce Portway Junior School as one of the winners.

The awards were set up to reward people that are working to enhance Hampshire's environment and to highlight the importance of good environmental practice. Portway Junior School has been awarded within the 'Schools' category, which promotes the use of landscape as an opportunity for learning; a high level of pupil involvement; sensitivity to local ecology; and an awareness of sustainability issues amongst its criteria.

These projects are extremely important to CPRE, as they offer environmental experiences and knowledge at a young age. Becky French from CPRE Hampshire said:

"CPRE feels its vitally important to promote environmental learning at a young age, as it's this initial learning that shapes opinions and ideas that last a life time."

With of the help of pupils, parents and volunteers the old school quadrangle was cleared and a new garden built. The aims of the project were to give every child in the school the opportunity to harvest, cook and eat the food they have grown, promoting a connection to the earth and the way it supports them. The children have been introduced to gardening organically and sustainability and they use gardening to support the teaching of science, maths, geography and citizenship. The space includes raised beds, a green house, wildlife pond, bog garden and a sheltered teaching area amongst other great environmental features.

The awards scheme is to be run annually and is open for the next round of entrants. It consists of three categories, in which projects that improve Hampshire's environment can be nominated to win an award. For more information please visit: www.cprehampshire.org.uk/news/awards.html or contact branch office on 01962 843655.

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Notes to editors

The Campaign to Protect Rural England, Hampshire Branch (CPRE Hampshire) is a registered charity and a branch of the national CPRE charity.

CPRE Hampshire strives to promote the beauty, tranquility and diversity of the countryside of Hampshire by the sustainable use of land and other resources in town and country, and encouraging the biodiversity and well-being of rural communities.

For information on CPRE, please contact:
Becky French or Pam Mason, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01962 843655
Email:admin@cprehampshire.org.uk

For all media enquiries, please contact:
Keren Burney, media & communications officer, CPRE Hampshire
Tel: 01730 894123   Mobile: 07876 780065
Email: kburney000@aol.com

© Copyright. CPRE Hampshire, 2007. All Rights Reserved.