ECO friendly pupils at Longforgan Primary have had their efforts to save the planet recognised by scooping a top prize in a national competition.

Longforgan won the first prize of £2000 in the It’s Our Future schools competition.

Pupils scooped the biodiversity category for its development of the Bogle Burn Trail initiative—an in-school project which involved cleaning up sections of the burn and planting native trees and bushes along the banks.

The school also designed and erected two panels giving pointers to walkers of the diversity of wildlife in the area.

The school now plans to use its winnings to extend the project.

The competition, run by the Scottish Executive in partnership with ScottishPower, rewards school projects which raise awareness of the environment and show pupils how they are affecting the world around them.

Head teacher Franca Reid said, “The money and the award have given the children and the entire community an excellent boost to continue with this project.”

Longforgan staff and pupils received their winner’s cheque and a special certificate from Environment Minister Ross Finnie MSP at an award ceremony at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh.

Praising the school’s project Mr Finnie said, “We need to encourage everyone in Scotland to adopt a more sustainable way of life and protect the world we live in.

“Scots schoolchildren like those at Longforgan Primary are showing leadership in the way they embrace the environmental challenges facing us all, and I urge others to do the same.

“The standard of the applications has been outstanding and I know the judges had a very difficult time in deciding the final winners.

“We need all to act to protect our future.

“It is important that each person looks at their behaviour when at work, at home and at leisure to see where we can reduce our impact on the planet.

“We all need to recognise that it’s our future, and start to translate our intentions into action.”

Alison McKean, ScottishPower head of environment, also praised the winning entry.

She said, “ScottishPower has been delighted to be associated with this competition and we have been so impressed by the calibre of the entrants.

“It’s Our Future seems to have really captured the imagination of our young people and it has been great to get a flavour of the projects which are going on in schools up and down our country.”

She added, “ScottishPower is involved in many initiatives which try to encourage children to think about how they use energy and what they can do to protect the environment, and it has been fantastic to see the awareness that is on display.

“We commend the Scottish Executive for pushing forward with this programme, and we look forward to working with them to help our customers of today and the future to become more energy aware.”