A GROUP of school pupils have decided to take care of the environment into their own hands by running their own green initiatives.

Felsted Prep School students have named themselves Planet Protectors and spend every spare moment getting their hands dirty with sustainability projects.Braintree and Witham Times: Planting - Felsted Prep School students with sunflower seeds Planting - Felsted Prep School students with sunflower seeds (Image: Felsted Prep School)

Braintree and Witham Times: Happy -Felsted Prep School students helping out plant sunflowersHappy -Felsted Prep School students helping out plant sunflowers (Image: Felsted Prep School)

Krishna, a nine-year-old student said: "Our world is screaming at us to recycle plastic.

"We don’t have a second Earth - this is our future.

"We need to recycle and keep our Earth healthy."

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So far, the Planet Protectors have sown wildflower seeds on a corner of the school grounds as part of their ‘rewilding’ project to help the natural ecosystem and the youngest Felstedians have helped to plant 100 trees around the campus.

Braintree and Witham Times: Collected - Felsted Prep School students collected waste in their local areasCollected - Felsted Prep School students collected waste in their local areas (Image: Felsted Prep School)Braintree and Witham Times: Plants - students planted 100 tree saplings Plants - students planted 100 tree saplings (Image: Felsted Prep School)

Some have also organised their own litter pick in the area, while others have carried out a survey of recycling to make sure as many items as possible are being re-used.  

Nia Thomson, a teaching assistant who oversees Planet Protectors, said: "The children are very enthusiastic about sustainability, so caring for the environment has been a real passion project for them.

"They are beginning to form genuine good habits of small, everyday sustainable changes to make a big difference - which I hope, as they grow up, will stay with them, helping to make the world a better place for the future."

Headteacher Miranda Norris said: "When harnessed well, pupils' voices are a powerful way to ensure that a school community grows stronger together. 

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"By giving our Planet Protectors a more active role in their environment and allowing them the space to voice their own sustainability ideas, they feel empowered to build upon the habits that continue to make a difference." 

Felsted has made a pledge this year to reduce waste, promote sustainability and encourage the ecosystem to flourish under the Felsted for a Sustainable Future initiative.Braintree and Witham Times: Celebrating - students want to help out with the environmental issues Celebrating - students want to help out with the environmental issues (Image: Felsted Prep School)

The school is working towards a ban on single-use cups for both pupils and staff, increased the number of recycling points across the school site, stepped up composting, and begun work to rewild several areas of the school grounds to support the local flora and fauna."