THERE is nothing green about the children at St Michael's CE Primary School who have been awarded as gold star by the Woodland for their eco-activities.

The school in Great Lever has received the gold award by the Woodland Trust for getting involved in green activities including tree planting, visiting a local woodland, reducing carbon emissions and recycling.

The trust's Green Tree Schools initiative is designed to bring the great outdoors, wildlife and green issues into the classroom.

Schools win awards for participating in green activities, which include tree planting, reducing carbon emissions and recycling.

St Michaels CEP has planted new trees in their school grounds, visited local woods to take part in activities such as den building, reduced their carbon emissions, recycling, completed writing and art work based on woodland visits, shared a special assembly and identification of trees in our school grounds.

Teacher Janet Lowe said: "We had to complete lots of activities to achieve this including a special assembly, visits to woodland, writing and art work about woodland, tree identification etc.

"Over the next year, we plan to embed the learning about woodlands and the trees around school into our curriculum, which will then lead to us achieving the highest award which is platinum.

"We have beautiful school grounds which are surrounded by a huge variety of trees.

"Our aim is to use our outdoor areas throughout the curriculum and to develop an appreciation of trees and woodland in the children.

"In November we are expecting a free tree pack to be delivered which children will then be involved in planting and caring for."

Karen Letten, Woodland Trust schools communications manager, added: “The scheme promotes a range of opportunities, each designed to stimulate a child’s imagination and sustain their interest in woods and trees.

"The achievements of the school are recognised through an awards scheme in which they receive points for taking part in activities.

"As they reach milestones within the project they will receive bronze, silver and finally an attractive wooden plaque which acknowledges they’ve achieved the environmental accolade of a gold award.”

The Woodland Trust is dedicated to creating new woodland with help from communities and schools, and protecting and restoring ancient woodland for future generations to cherish.