Students at Harrow College have scooped top prize for their innovative sustainability project. The prize was part of an environmentally focused competition called the Ann Swaine Award.
The award is granted to an educational project which has a sustainable or environmentally friendly theme and is organised by the Education Group of the Harrow Environmental Forum.
The students, part of the College's LLDD (Learners with Learning Difficulties / Disabilities) Learning Links programme created a wildlife habitat on the site of the Weald campus. The aim was to maximise the biodiversity on site and to provide the best possible wildlife habitats to encourage more insects, and small mammals on to the site.
Using old storage pallets and wild berries and shrubbery from around the local area, the students produced the perfect environment to attract wildlife. The students named the project 'Bug Hotel'. Over the following months, Bug Hotel was full of occupants.
Celia Reece, supported learning, entry and LLDD lecturer at Harrow College said: "We are thrilled to have won this award. The students have put in so much work constructing the Bug Hotel and their interest and enthusiasm in this sustainable project really shows that they care about their college environment."
The winning prize also included a cheque for £500 which is to be used towards enhancing this project or for other environmental activity. Purchasing a guinea pig house and the necessary equipment to keep guinea pigs at Harrow College is also something being planned for.
Ann Swaine was a founding member of Harrow Environmental Forum and the award is in her memory.