Eco Aware Earth Day (first published in West Sussex County Times)
The children at Ashington CE Primary School enjoyed an early Earth Green Day on Thursday 7th April 2022. The day was organised by Sienna, Magenta, Sophie and Jasmine, four passionate Eco Warriors in Year 5 supported by the school’s Outdoor Learning Lead, Miss Martlew.
The four girls had their eco passion ignited by a Rainforest topic in Year Four and ever since have eagerly encouraged others, staff included, to join them in driving for a more eco aware school, community and planet. Consequently, there was no need for the school staff to set up an eco-group; the girls would never have not let it happen! They created their own group, with many other children eager to join in.
The Green Day started with a whole school Eco Easter bonnet parade with winners from each class receiving an eco-notebook and pen and an Easter Egg. All hats were adorned with recycled decorations and had an Easter theme. The children clung to their hats in the wind but were full of smiles of pride in the beautiful spring sunshine as they paraded, each class in turn, in front of the whole school to cheerful applause.
The girls also set up a sponsored obstacle course and race, and an Easter Eco fact egg hunt for every class to take part in. Parents were asked to sponsor their children to take part in the race and the girls decided that under the current circumstances the money raised should go to support families in the Ukraine.
The whole school wore green clothes for the day as well as their eco bonnets. Younger children paired up with children from another class to find, read and answer all the eco related questions during the egg hunt. This was a very popular activity with children having fun and supporting each other whilst also learning lots of eco facts.
Year One children enjoyed the obstacle race so much many didn’t want to stop running even when their turn came to an end!
The four girls have led whole school assemblies and organised a book swap as part of their campaign to raise awareness, and we are now really excited to be welcoming the Sussex Green Living Bright New Future Roadshow to our school on May 20th.
Our young ‘Eco-Warriors’ have many more ideas up their sleeves…the staff can’t wait to see what’s suggested next!
If you would like to book the SGL roadshow, for your school, group or event, please contact
We run two monthly events which people are encouraged to attend:
Sussex Green Hub a physical event at the United Reformed Church in Horsham (behind Wilkos near the bus station), its on the last Saturday each month.
Sussex Green Ideas a Zoom online event on the 3rd Wednesday each month, sometimes this is networking, sharing news and events and sometimes with speakers, these are the forthcoming topics:
Wed 18th May – Learn how you can reduce the plastics in your home and help the planet through using refill services. Presented by Elle Runcton, circular economy consultant
Wed 15th June – Wasting Food Feeds Climate Change. Presented by Karen Park, No Incinerator 4 Horsham
Wed 20th July – Pay to breath and help save the rainforests. Presented by Nicola Peel
Wed 21st Sept – Learn about greener heating in readiness for the winter. Presented by Simon Beach from A Greener Alternative
Written by Pip Fairweather Headteacher at Ashington CofE School
