YOUNG eco-warriors are doing their bit to save the planet.

Thinking about the environment is part of daily life for the young people at St Mary’s RC Primary School in Horwich.

And according to a report by Unicef, many young people are worried about the future of the planet and want to make a difference.

For example, the report found that British children are worried about the impact on climate change.

A survey of 1,001 UK youngsters, as part of the report, found almost three quarters wanted the government to combat the issues.

Unicef UK is calling for the government to push for a global legally binding treaty to reduce emissions.

It also wants children to be involved in the development of climate policies as they will be the ones directly affected by decisions.

But until then youngsters at the Victoria Road primary school are stepping up to the challenge.

Children are already responsible for turning off lights and computers and they monitor gas, electricity and water use so well that consumption at the school has gone down.

St Mary’s RC Primary was the first school in Bolton to be awarded the Green Flag Award in 2007.

And every year during the autumn term the school holds a Green Day to inspire more young people.

This year, the emphasis was on growing and sourcing food locally which would help reduce the carbon footprint.

Children turned their carrots into soup and encouraged families to leave the car at home and hop aboard the walking bus.

Youngsters visited Rivington Barn and found out about the different species of plants, trees and fungi that grow locally, a trip was also organised to Raikes Lane Recycling plan to find out what happens to rubbish after it is collected.

Thomas Cardwell, aged seven, said: “Everyone can make a small changes to look after the environment.”

Charlotte Berne, aged eight, added: “We enjoyed walking to school and we hope it encourages people to carry on walking to school because too many cars cause pollution and it damages the plant.”

Emily Hawkrigg, aged nine, said: “It is important to recycle because we can’t keep cutting down trees, which are important because they give us oxygen.

“We now send E-cards and recycle in school and at home.”

The school started teaching young people about the environment to bring the curriculum, particularly in geography, to life.

Since then the eco-club has grown and so has the school’s work to save the planet, with new initiatives and focuses being introduced every year.

Deputy head, and school’s eco-coordinator, Anne-Marie Davies, said: “I first heard about teaching environmental issues at college and as geography co-ordinator thought it would bring the world alive for the children.

“But it is there enthusiasm which drives it forward, they come to me with ideas.”

She said one of the pupils, seven-year-old, Bo Deakin-Martin, wanted to help save the rainforest, so a campaign was started.

Mrs Davies said: “What they are doing is making a difference and is important to make them aware of the environment, because it is there future.

“They go home and pass that message on.

“We had one pupil who went on to challenge an Ed Miliband, when he was Climate Change Secretary, when he visited St Joseph’s RC High School about policies.”