Two youngsters whose winning climate emergency designs were chosen to be on the side of their local bin wagons saw their visions turned into reality.
Thomas Iveson, a year five pupil at Langdale CE School, won the years five and six category and Monika Witkowicz, a year eight pupil from Cartmel Priory CE School, won the years seven and eight category in South Lakeland District Council’s (SLDC) recent competition.
Thomas and Monika were delighted to see their designs when the wagons visited their schools. They said they were proud that their designs had been chosen and would be seen by thousands of people as they travel around the district every day. Wagons have also been named Monika and Thomas to honour their achievements.
Some of the other entries will be used in SLDC social media campaigns and it is hoped that they will all be on show in Kendal Town Hall when restrictions are lifted.
Councillor Dyan Jones, portfolio holder for climate action and biodiversity, said: “It was fantastic to see so many young people taking part and showing in such brilliant and varied ways their understanding of the challenges the climate emergency brings to us all.
“Thomas and Monika’s designs were worthy winners and it is great to think they will be seen by thousands of people every week and play a part in prompting more people to consider what they can do to reduce our carbon footprints.”
Pupils from schools throughout South Lakeland were invited to create a poster inspiring people to take action, while giving “a clear and hopeful message” of how a low-carbon world can benefit us all.
The council worked with experts from The University of Manchester to launch the competition, which attracted 68 entries from primary schools and 36 from secondary schools.
The judging panel was made up of researcher Dr Laura Leay, based at The University of Manchester’s Dalton Cumbrian facility, part of the Dalton Nuclear Institute; Claire Brown, PhD researcher at Manchester’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research; artist Jeni McConnell of local climate change action group PEAT; and Joe Cassidy, business development manager at Newsquest Cumbria.
They said they were “blown away” by the quality of the 100-plus entries from primary and secondary schools across South Lakeland.
One of SLDC’s four key priorities is responding to climate change and enhancing biodiversity, including SLDC becoming carbon neutral by 2030 and supporting a county-wide target of 2037.
