The Olympic canoeist helping pupils go green

8:04am Tuesday 4th March 2008

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GETTING children to be aware of their environment is something schools across Worcestershire have been encompassing more and more in recent years.

There is an array of initiatives on offer to help teachers bring the issue to the forefront, such as forest schools, the Eco-Schools awards, and the Schools Environmental Challenge, to name but a few.

Children are taught to respect the environment they live in and learn how their actions can have an impact. Now a unique project with its roots in Worcestershire is taking the challenge one step further, enlisting the help of the county's schools to fight climate change.

Paddle for Life was developed by Olympic canoeing coach David Train, who lives at Fladbury, near Evesham. He is encouraging children, politicians and world leaders to sign a series of symbolic paddles to show their support for saving the planet. Mr Train has travelled the world gaining signatures and support.

Now his son Andy Train, five times Olympian and world champion canoeist, is taking the campaign to schools in Worcestershire with a project encouraging them to plant willow trees, which will be harvested to make paddles and bell boats' - large canoes for up to 14 children.

"By autumn I hope to have around 50 schools in Worcestershire taking part in the project," he said.

"The idea is that the pupils will plant a number of willows at their school, which in three to four years' time will be ready to harvest.

"Not only will they make use of the willows by making paddles out of them but they will be helping the environment by increasing the number of trees and therefore reducing the CO2 in the atmosphere. It's all about bringing people together to solve the planet's problems."

Mr Train said all the schools in Droitwich were already signed up, and he is now travelling further afield in the county to spread the word. I caught up with him at Wychbold First School, where schools from across the area had come together to learn more about this unique project.

Mr Train said: "What I would like is for Wychavon to lead the way in establishing a tree planting week each year. I want to get all the local schools planting willows every year.

"Then I would like to see a local regatta take place in each area each year whereby schools and the community come together in bell boats and enjoy themselves on the local waterways.

"Not everyone is as lucky as myself to take part in the Olympics, but it doesn't mean they should miss out. It would be nice to have a number of festivals taking place locally each year where people can get involved."

Peter Bravo, headteacher at Wychbold First School, said he was delighted to be involved.

"We are always keen to get involved in anything that gets our children outside and learning about the environment," he said. "I think this is a great idea and we are looking forward to getting our willows planted up and watching them grow."

Mr Bravo said the pupils at the school had already tried their hand at bell boating last year and the school was hoping to offer more chances to have a go in the future.

A number of schools in the county have already got involved in Paddle for Life by making paddles with special kits, and then painting them. Pupils from Nunnery Wood High School in Worcester carried their paddle to the top of Mount Snowdon during a trip in December last year.

Mr Train said: "Now that we have got schools making the paddles we need to encourage them to plant trees to replace the wood used. That is where this project is heading."

Before assembly, the paddles resemble a sword and shield. This is linked to a story about parliament and democracy for children, teaching them not to fight but to make a paddle from their sword and shield and work together.

Mr Train said: "My father has received a lot of support and positive feedback from the project. So far, four or five members of the Government's cabinet have signed the paddle, pledging their support and more are expected to do so later this year."

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and former Prime Minister Tony Blair are just some of the people to sign a Paddle for Life.