Thursday 28th February saw Gemma Tomlinson and Victoria Ingham of PROSPECTS Foundation visiting St. Mary's Primary School in Oswaldtwistle. The pair spent a morning planting carrot, lettuce and tomato seeds with eighteen enthusiastic year 1 pupils.

The children were given a talk before they began the practical work; Gemma described what they would be planting and explained the growing stages of the vegetables.

The morning was full of mess and laughter and enjoyed by all. Gemma and Victoria were very pleased with the pupils' enthusiasm for the progress of their eco project and look forward to returning in May to plant the vegetables in the schools outside classroom.

St. Mary's is one of Hyndburn's Eco-Schools' and benefits from guidance and physical help regularly given by The PROSPECTS Foundation, Hyndburn's community owned environmental charity.

The Eco School programme is an international environmental education programme run by the FEE (Federation for Environmental Education). Schools can participate in activities and projects to obtain awards of status depicted by flags.

The main purpose of a school becoming eco' is to increase and eventually stabilize the schools sustainability. The government would like all schools in England to be completely sustainable by the year 2020.

There is an immense amount of support out there for schools wishing to engage in the activities, and become an eco school. If you require any further information please ring 01254 380675 or log on to http://www.eco-schools.org.uk