Hodge Hill Schools Gear Up for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize

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Hodge Hill Schools Gear Up for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize

Sixteen primary schools across Hodge Hill in Birmingham are creating solutions to the climate change challenge as part of a local version of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. Local businesses have pledged thousands of pounds to enable the best ideas to be turned into reality.

Two hundred and fifty children are now getting ready for a “digital check-in” on Thursday 23 March with local MP Liam Byrne, in preparation for the final selection to be announced on Monday 19th June at Millennium Point in Birmingham.

The schools have been asked to select one of five challenges: protect and restore nature, build a waste-free world, clean our air, fix our climate and revive our oceans.

Early ideas have included building a biodome with recycled materials, providing local people with bird boxes, encouraging more children to walk to school, restoring a pond in the school grounds, planting more trees and cleaning up the local canal.

“The response of local schools has been really encouraging”, said Liam Byrne, “it is clear that our children recognise the challenge, but also that they can make a difference in their own community. We are going to have a foretaste at our “digital check-in” on Thursday and some quite ambitious, but achievable projects presented to us at the finals in June”.

The primary schools invited to submit ideas include Adderley, Alston, Brownmead, Academy, Firs, Highfield, Lea Forest, Leigh, Marlborough, Nansen, Parkfield, The Rosary, St Saviours, Tame Valley, Thornton and Washwood Heath.

Supporters include the World’s Largest Lesson, Millennium Point, Severn Trent Water, Tyseley Energy Park, the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust and Birmingham City Council.

The “digital check-in” will begin at 10.00 am on Thursday 23 March and last 90 minutes. Local media are welcome to be silent observers and learn more about the creative ideas which are coming from primary school children in Birmingham.