Top Footprints tips for children and young people

1. Unplug your mobile phone or MP3 player charger once you have finished charging. Electricity will continue to travel through your charger even if your device is disconnected from it, so make sure it is switched off.
2. Make the most of sunny days out in the garden by attracting more birds and animals. Check out the Junior guide to Gardening for Wildlife for some hints on how you can do this.
3. Walk or cycle to school. If you live a safe distance away from school, you will greatly reduce your carbon footprint by walking or cycling. If you do have to use a car, try sharing lifts with friends, or even better, research local public transport routes online. Try Traveline's website for information about local transport links in your area.
4. Use your local library. By using your library to source books, DVDs or music you will effectively be reusing products rather than buying from new, therefore reducing your carbon footprint.
5. Become a recycling champion around your house. If you see someone putting plastic bottles, tins, glass or cardboard in the rubbish bin make sure they know they can all be recycled.

Eco Schools

The Council is challenging all the primary and secondary schools within the district to aspire to become an Eco-School. Eco-Schools is a European wide award scheme which requires a school to examine its environmental impact against the nine areas of energy; water; biodiversity; global perspectives; healthy living; litter; school grounds; transport; and waste.