London Schools Environment Awards 2008

Chris Packham entertains children representing winning schools at the LSEA award ceremony.

On 10 July 2008 the Mayor presented the London Schools Environment Awards to primary schools from across London. A distinction award of Ł2000 and a highly commended award of Ł1000 were presented to two schools in each of the London boroughs.

Thames Water is the principal sponsor of the 2007/8 awards, which are also supported by EDF Energy and Capital Standards. The topics schools explored as part of the award scheme were litter, water and wastewater, waste and recycling, energy and climate change, transport and biodiversity. Children learned about the need to reduce, re-use and recycle waste and to save energy at home and at school, and were taught about plants, animals and habitats. Volunteers from Thames Water and other organisations went into schools across London during LSEA volunteer month to help children with their environmental projects.

The Mayor was joined by TV presenter and wildlife photographer Chris Packham at City Hall, where 65 London schools were praised and celebrated for their environmental work.

Speaking on the awards, the Mayor said: "There has been a wonderful response to this year’s London School Environment Awards and the enthusiasm shown by all of these young green champions is really encouraging. Not only have they set a great example to all Londoners, young and old, they have, thanks to their parents and teachers, learnt at a young age the importance of caring for their environment."

Chris Packham entertained pupils, teachers and borough link officers with rare and unusual items from his curiosity cabinet. The pupils handled items ranging from seal bones to dung balls! One lucky pupil took home a roe deer skull!

Chris spoke with passion about his career working with animals and raised the importance of preserving habitats, and water conservation. Chris said: "The London Schools Environment Awards continue to go from strength to strength and I am so pleased to be a part of them again this year. It is really encouraging to see the volume of entries for 2008 and the level of knowledge that London school children are showing when it comes to improving aspects of London’s environment. I would like to again congratulate the teachers and students involved and encourage them to continue flying the green flag."

The Mayor presents children representing winning schools with their LSEA award and prize money.

Pupils and teachers left the award ceremony proud of their achievements, enthusiastic about LSEA and armed with a winners’ bag full of environmental goodies!