Paddle on Snowdon can help to save our planet

12:28pm Friday 28th December 2007

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ENVIRONMENTALLY aware pupils from a Worcester school have carried a 12-foot canoe paddle to the top of mount Snowdon in a bid to raise awareness of climate change.

Two groups of ten pupils from Nunnery Wood High School and teacher Karen Humphries carried the paddle along with a smaller one signed by home secretary Jacqui Smith and councillors from Worcestershire during a trip to outdoor education centre at Llanrug.

The Paddle for Life philosophy was developed by Olympic Canoeing Coach David Train, through Fladbury Canoe Club and pupils at primary schools in south east Worcestershire.

Mr Train has been encouraging children, politicians and world leaders to sign a series of symbolic paddles to show their support for saving the planet.

The pupils raised the paddle along with English and Welsh flags next to Snowdon's summit cairn on Wednesday, December 17.

Richard Townshend, who works at Llanrug, said: "The year 11 pupils took part in this event during their week's course at Llanrug Outdoor Education Centre and were accompanied by head of centre Jon Elliott, group leaders Angela Whitehead and Rod White and trainee instructor Chris Forecast.

"The groups took about four hours to make the 3,000-ft ascent and temperatures on the summit were well below zero."

Nunnery Wood is the first secondary school in Worcestershire to achieve Eco-school status.