Schools or students with a passion for environmental issues can win recognition at the county’s annual Green School Awards.

Projects inspired within schools but delivered in the wider community, pupils homes or on school sites can be entered under the broad categories of green travel to school, recycling, energy conservation or nature conservation.

Primary, secondary and special schools can enter with the closing date at 11 December.

Simon Dolby from the KM Charity Team which stages the annual awards said entries could involve a design competition to reduce electricity use organised within school but the resulting posters or stickers being used in the family home or parents’ place of work, or a homework project to design and build a bird house that is used in the pupil’s garden. The county’s thriving walk to school schemes and associated road safety work are also celebrated through the Green School Awards and can be nominated.

Initiatives can focus solely on school grounds such as a recycling campaign created and delivered on school premises or the creation of a nature conservation area or kitchen garden to grow vegetables used in the school kitchens.

Mr Dolby said: “Schools and students are passionate about green issues with many schools adding a Forest School element to their site. We want to showcase this good work and passion.”

Winners will be invited to an awards celebration staged at the Kent Cricket Club, Canterbury in February 2017. The event is supported by Golding Homes and LoopCR and Kent County Cricket Club. A booklet detailing winners’ projects will be circulated to all 700 schools in the region to help spread best practice. To submit a nomination visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk