OKEHAMPTON Rotary Club has awarded a grant of £2,500 to Okehampton Primary School, helping them move closer to achieving green flag status under the eco-schools programme.

The grant was the largest ever awarded by the club, which chose the school after acknowledging the benefits of obtaining the status, which would allow all feeder primary schools to learn from their expertise, and help them to win similar awards.

Headteacher Brian Cunningham said: 'We are just so very grateful to the Rotary Club and for their generous support.

'It will help us to create a role as eco-ambassador and we are keen to achieve that status.

'It's fantastic that they can see all the benefits, not only for our school but for the wider community, so that we can share what we are doing and involve others.'

The primary school also received a surprise gold award from the Woodland Trust in recognition of all the work it has done on tree planting in the school grounds.

'It's just wonderful that we have received this award.

'It's an added bonus to be recognised for all the tree planting we have done and we are very proud to have it.'

The money from the grant will be used to help the school reduce energy consumption, involving the children in all the work, which will become part of the curriculum.

The school hopes to enhance the wildlife and pond area and reduce water consumption and increase recycling. All the food waste from the kitchens will be composted and used on the plant beds, which are being used to grow fresh produce for the school kitchen.