Returning for its fifth year, the Green School Awards 2020 was held at the Ashford International Hotel of which Countrystyle Recycling was delighted to attend.

The awards, celebrate eco-friendly schools in Kent and Medway and honour schools giving youngsters the knowledge and motivation to help protect the planet. Kmfm newsreader Nicola Everett shared hosting duties with KM Charity Team founder Simon Dolby of Streetspace. And James Williams, Director of Public Health for Medway Council, gave a rousing congratulatory speech to the winners.

As sponsors of the walk to school scheme, Countrystyle’s Senior Sales Consultant Vanessa Hayward attended the ceremony to congratulate the pupils and distribute awards. Commenting on the day she said “it has been a great event today to meet the winners of the Green Schools Awards. It’s heart-warming to see the efforts of all the schools involved commemorated and recognised. Green travel is important to Countrystyle and being a Kent based company, it is great to see local schools engaging with eco-initiatives. Congratulations to all the winners!”

The ceremony was adorned with stunning artificial trees supplied by Blessing by Blé which set the stage – and the tables – for the green festivities. Youngsters from Amherst School in Sevenoaks provided the entertainment with a 40-strong choir singing their winning entry – Walking on Sunshine – for the 2019 KM Walk to School Song Contest.

27 schools in total received district awards and seven achieved the additional accolade of being named county champion, including

• The Wye School – Ashford (Health and Wellbeing Champion)
• Sutton Valence Primary – Maidstone (Energy Conservation Champion)
• Goudhurst and Kilndown CE Primary – Tunbridge Wells (Green Travel Champion)
• Chiddingstone CE Primary – Sevenoaks (Nature Conservation Champion)
• Dover College (Green Champion)
• St Mary’s Island CE Primary – Chatham (Clean Air for Schools Champion)
• Chatham Grammar (Recycling Champion)

Countrystyle joined the ranks of representatives from the awards’ supporters to present winners with trophies and framed certificates, including Loop CR, NCS Technology, Golding Homes, East Kent Recycling, Ethical Earth Company, Medway Council, SGS Energy, and Streetspace. Also joining in the celebrations were green travel supporters Volker Highways, Specsavers, Buckland Media, Kent County Council and Ashford Borough Council.