
FORRES ACADEMY PUPILS have demonstrated their skill at investigating environmental issues around their local community – and have a national award to prove it.
Pupils formed a task group to promote recycling under a campaign organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful – and such was their success they travelled to Stirling this week to pick up a special commendation award from the environmental charity.
Six pupils at the school aged from 15 to 17 developed investigative skills to produce a series of articles about how our activities are endangering local wildlife. The team drew on various sources – including tapping into the highly successful local gardening group, with one of their entries into the competition entitled ‘Forres in Bloom’.
As well as their commendation certificate the team picked up a tablet computer for their school at the ceremony last week.
Young Reporters Scotland is a national competition open to young people in the 11 to 20 age group, and is linked to the International Reporters for the Environment initiative.
Derek Robertson, who is chief executive at Keep Scotland Beautiful, commented: “Keep Scotland Beautiful aims to make Scotland clean, green and more sustainable. As our future, young people are at the heart of making this happen.
“We are proud to support them and help to develop new skills through our Young Reporters Scotland programme.
“All of the entrants have submitted fantastic examples of investigative journalism, demonstrating their extensive range of knowledge and experience. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication and hard work.”
Young individuals or groups interested in learning more on the competition can find details online.