4 JULY 2007 OVER 200 representatives from
local businesses, schools and community groups attended Harrogate
district's 2007 Best Action of the Environment (BAFTERS) Awards
Ceremony on Monday, 2 July to see a showcase of some the most
environmentally friendly organisations in the district get
recognition for their achievements.
Organised by Harrogate Borough Council's Environmental
Strategy Team, the gala awards ceremony was held at the St George
Hotel where BBC Weatherman Paul Hudson presented BAFTERS to the
three category winners: Bettys Craft Bakery, Holy Trinity Junior
School and the Pinewoods Conservation Group.
All three organisations were praised for their outstanding
work to protect and enhance the environment.
Amongst their prize-winning activities, Bettys Craft Bakery
who took the Best Action for the Environment Business
Award - were praised for cutting waste by twenty
five per cent. Each year, the company composts
six tonnes of Yorkshire tea bags instead of sending them to
landfill. The tea bags are used to make their
famous Yorkshire tea loves.
Holy Trinity Junior School's active 'Eco Committee' of pupils
and staff were commended for their work to reduce carbon emissions
in school and for setting up the schools new five point Eco-Code
and were awarded the overall School Award
The Community Award went to the Pinewoods Conservation Group
who work voluntarily to improve access to this local beauty spot
and enhance the wildlife habitat.
Andrew Jones, Cabinet Member for Resources, who hosted the
ceremony, said: "These awards are about
recognising and celebrating success. This year
we heard about some exceptional organisations all of which have
worked hard to protect and improve our
environment. They have proved that everyone can
play a part in tackling environmental issues and we can all make a
real difference."
Caroline Grant, Bettys Craft Bakery General Manager and head
of the Bakery Environmental Team noted: "At our family business we
are committed to keeping our environmental impact as small as
possible. At the Bakery we recycle all
cardboard, paper and glass, compost our teabags, use low
wattage lighting and source our ingredients locally to reduce food
miles. Every single member of staff contributes
towards our environmental activities and we feel proud to celebrate
our dedication to positive change with such a constructive and
encouraging award." ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS : As well as the three top
awards, prizes for waste reduction were presented to Bishop Monkton
CE Primary School, Nidd Vale Group, Treves UK, Shamrock Veterinary
Clinic and Soroptimist International Harrogate and
District. And awards for reducing energy use
were presented to Pannal Primary School, Wild Ginger and Harrogate
District Community Transport.
Entrants in the Awards have also been asked to do a little bit
more by planting a tree.
Johnsons of Whixley kindly donated 20 trees and other
sponsors of the Awards included Northern Gas Networks,
Harrogate International Centre, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society,
and npower. ENDS