PUPILS in Hale and Breamore have been rewarded for efforts in taking action to improve the environment around them.

Hale Primary School has been awarded its first Echo-Schools green flag while Breamore CE Primary School picked up its third.

The Eco-Schools green flag is an internationally recognised award for excellence in environmental action and learning.

Last year, Hale Primary School pupils introduced a park and stride initiative to encourage more families to walk to school.

Executive head teacher for the Forest Edge Learning Foundation, which includes Breamore and Hale primary schools, said: “We are committed to ensuring that the children in our schools develop an ‘eco mindset’ and know what action they can take to help preserve all that is special in our world.

“Our children have a love of and sense of awe for outdoors and the New Forest.

"We love it when they seize on something they want to put right such as writing to local businesses to ask them to stop using plastic straws or making textile bags for local shoppers to use instead of plastic bags. These Green Flag awards are recognition of their commitment.”