Council and democracy

Mayor rewards Croydon's young green champions at ceremony in City Hall

Applegarth Nursery and Infant School in New Addington and St Joseph's RC Junior School in Upper Norwood both won awards: distinction (£2,000) and highly commended (£1,000), respectively. The awards are designed to help foster children's sense of responsibility for their local environment - a key part of the environmental agenda for London.

Now in its fifth year, over 580 schools from across the capital's 33 boroughs registered for the 2008 awards and both the judges and the Mayor have been impressed with the level of enthusiasm and talent shown. The theme for this year's awards was learning how litter, graffiti and even noise can have a negative impact on the capital's environment.

At a fun-filled event, held in City Hall, the Mayor met with, and personally congratulated, children from 65 of London's winning schools, which were rewarded with cash prizes of £2,000 and £1,000.

Councillor Maria Gatland, cabinet member for children's services and adult learning, said: "I am so proud of our children, who have yet again demonstrated how important the environment is for us all. I would like to congratulate the teachers and students involved and encourage them to continue flying the green flag."

 The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "There has been a wonderful response to this year's London School Environment Awards and the enthusiasm shown by all of these young green champions is really encouraging. Not only have they set a great example to all Londoners, young and old, they have, thanks to their parents and teachers, learnt at a young age the importance of caring for their environment.

"The quality of our local environment has a huge impact on our well-being and our safety. If our streets and parks are covered in graffiti and litter we are sending out a message to everyone that the area has little value and we dont care about it. These children excelling here today are learning valuable lessons that are helping London now, and will continue to do so in the future - I urge them to keep up the good work that they've already started."

The London Schools Environment Awards were set up in 2003, in conjunction with the 28 Capital Standards boroughs, to develop children's sense of responsibility for their environment. They are run in partnership with the principal sponsor, Thames Water, and are also supported by EDF Energy, Capital Standards and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.