Scores of extra trees are today helping create a better environment after pupils in Essex got digging to do their bit for a greener, cleaner planet.
Pupils from Beam Primary School in Oval Road North, Dagenham and Dilkes Primary School in Garron Lane, South Ockendon, planted about 50 saplings each including Oak and Wild Cherry, which were supplied by EDF Energy for Green Britain Day.
The event on June 17 was a day of celebration for Team Green Britain, an ongoing movement of hundreds of thousands of people and groups brought together by EDF Energy, through a shared commitment to lowering Britain’s carbon footprint. EDF Energy, the UK’s largest producer of low carbon electricity, has worked with London 2012, the Eden Project, Global Action Plan, and Eco-Schools to organise a summer of activities to inspire people to live a lower carbon lifestyle.
Staff from EDF Energy, based in Bexleyheath helped to plant the trees at both schools as part of the company’s Helping Hands scheme, which gives staff two paid days a year to volunteer in the community.
Robert Chapple, head of industry data management at EDF Energy took part in the tree planting at Beam Primary School.
He said: “The children absolutely loved it. We talked them through exactly what we were doing and why and what trees do for the environment.
“They responded so well to the challenge and you really could not beat their enthusiasm.
“It is really important as a company that we can get involved with the community in this way and pass on this vital message about looking after the environment to the children who are our future.”
Rhys Latham is assistant head teacher at Dilkes Primary School. The event was incorporated into the school’s science and maths week during which the children had been learning about sustainability and the environment, taking part in nature sessions and walks.
Mr Latham said: “It was a fantastic event and the children really enjoyed it. It is great for the pupils to plant something which they can then nurture and watch grow over the next five years.
“It is paramount for the children to be able to get back to nature. We are training them for the future to look after the planet.”
At Beam Primary School the event inspired the pupils to try to start their own gardening club.
Deputy head teacher Tracey Whittington said: “The children absolutely loved it and we have been watering the plants ever since. We have just had a new playground created, which has no shade. The children decided we should plant them near there so when the saplings grow they can provide shade and shelter.”
More than 9,000 schools across the country have signed up to EDF Energy’s Programme for Greener Schools at www.jointhepod.org and EDF Energy wants the Green Britain Day effort to inspire them to become more sustainable.
Jim Poole, EDF Energy’s director of business to customer, added: “We can only tackle climate change effectively by working together as a team. As the UK’s largest producer of low carbon electricity and London 2012’s first sustainability partner, EDF Energy has kicked off the second Team Green Britain to bring people together to reduce Britain’s carbon footprint.
“Following the success of Green Britain Day in 2009, we’re once again using the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire employees, our customers and all those interested, to save money and save energy. We believe that Green Britain Day and Team Green Britain will provide more schools and communities with the inspiration, the knowledge and the support they need to change today for a lower carbon tomorrow.
“We want everyone to get involved too by signing up to be a part of the Team at www.teamgreenbritain.org”.
This year, Danielle Lineker, Lauren Laverne and Jamelia have joined forces with EDF Energy, Olympic and Paralympic Ambassadors including 15-year-old swimmer Ellie Simmonds and hundreds of thousands of Team Green Britain members to take part in a summer of fun activities and eco-trials.
ENDS
For further information, contact Jess Gallagher in the EDF Energy press office on 01473 266484.
Notes to editors:
Green Britain Day
Team Green Britain was kicked off by EDF Energy, the UK’s largest producer of low carbon electricity, in partnership with London 2012, the Eden Project, Global Action Plan, and Eco-Schools. It is a growing group of people all across Britain doing what they can to reduce their carbon footprint by changing their lives in ways which are better for them and the environment.
Green Britain Day is a day each year where schools, communities, businesses and other motivated people showcase and celebrate what the Team are doing as an inspiration to the rest of the country to join us. This year, Green Britain Day was on June 17.
Through our Sustainability Commitments, EDF Energy has launched the biggest environmental programme to tackle climate change of any UK energy company. In these commitments, we have pledged to reduce the intensity of carbon emissions from our power plants by 60% and to lower the proportion of carbon arising from our customers’ energy consumption by 15% by 2020.
As well as reducing the carbon intensity of our emissions, EDF Energy has a social and ethical responsibility to encourage the next generation of environmental guardians to take action against climate change. This is why EDF Energy has worked with Eco-Schools to set up “the Pod”, which aims to educate 2.5 million school children about sustainable living by 2012.
For information about Team Green Britain go to www.teamgreenbritain.org and the Pod www.jointhepod.org
EDF Energy
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the UK’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customers. It is the number one supplier of electricity to major business in the UK.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants would generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Read, Reduce, Reward and Team Green Britain.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK.