Pupils invited to compete to improve environment

LOCAL firm, McLaughlin & Harvey, in partnership with Newtownabbey Borough Council and Young Enterprise NI have joined forces to find out what ideas local primary schoolchildren have to improve their local environment.

A competition has been organised for local schools and the best entry will get the ultimate prize - the winning idea will be created within the victors' school grounds by McLaughlin & Harvey!

Richard Robinson, Environment Manager for McLaughlin & Harvey said: "At McLaughlin & Harvey we have worked hard to embed sustainability in all aspects of our business.

"Our sustainability goals include having a positive influence in the local community and promoting environmental awareness. We see this as an excellent opportunity to do something positive for a local school that will both promote biodiversity and engage pupils. This is particularly important as the pupils of today will be the McLaughlin & Harvey employees of tomorrow."

Lindsay Matthews, Biodiversity Officer for Newtownabbey Borough Council added: "I regularly work with primary school children on a variety of environmental activities and their creativity often knows no bounds.

"This is a great opportunity for school children to get creative and let us know how they feel their school grounds and local environment can be improved. By combining creative ideas with the expertise of McLaughlin & Harvey, I think this project will be a great success."

All primary schools in Newtownabbey are encouraged to get creative and to come forth with ideas.

But don't delay - ideas are required by May 7, 2010. So, if your school would like to improve its school grounds for biodiversity, it's time to get those thinking caps on!

For an application form, contact Lindsay Matthews on Tel: 028 9034 0069 or email: [email protected]

Deadline for all entries is May 7, 2010.