DARTON Primary School has been awarded a platinum award by the Woodland Trust for getting involved in green activities.

The Green Tree Schools initiative, which has seen more than 12,000 schools sign up since it was launched in 2008, offers the opportunity to bring the great outdoors, wildlife and green issues into the classroom.

Schools win awards for participating in green activities, both in and out of the classroom.

Darton Primary School has planted 40 new trees in their school grounds, visited local woods, created a woodland nature trail and joined in various other Woodland Trust activities.

Beth Smith, leader of the Eco Council at Darton Primary School said: “I am immensely proud of all of the children who have contributed towards the Platinum award over the past three years. The children have thrived being outdoors and learning new things about the environment and they have such a positive outlook towards helping the community grow.”

Karen Letten, Woodland Trust schools and communities engagement manager, added: “The scheme promotes a range of opportunities, each designed to stimulate a child’s imagination and sustain their interest in woods and trees. The achievements of the school are recognised through an awards scheme in which they receive points for taking part in activities. As they reach milestones within the project they will receive bronze, silver and at gold an attractive wooden plaque which acknowledges this environmental accolade. Only a handful of schools have moved on to achieve platinum, making this a huge accomplishment for the school.”

The primary also won an award at the recent Stars of Darton West Award. The awards recognise community members and volunteers for the work they do in the communities of Darton, Mapplewell, Staincross, Redbrook and more. Darton Primary won the Young Volunteers 2019 award.