Green youngsters from a Dorchester school were among the winners of a regional eco schools competition.

The contest took pupils from Damers School, Dorchester, on a 12 week virtual journey along the south west coastline to learn about their environment.

The pupils had the chance to explore and connect with their local environment, learn about microplastics and how their choices can make a real impact on where they live.

Between May and September, students and their families joined a virtual microplastic beach clean at 36 locations using the Challenge mobile app as their guide.

The app is a complete resource with a range of features, challenge activity sheets and a map of the South West with links to photographs of the beaches and hidden Nurdle trommels – the tool designed in the South West by the not-for-profit start-up Nurdle, to collect microplastics - which are also called nurdles.

Each location presented a different challenge for the pupils. Examining every room in their homes, they were encouraged to rethink their relationship with plastic. Challenges also looked at opportunities outside the home – at school and elsewhere – to think about how to reduce use, reuse as much as possible and then recycle what they use carefully and effectively.

The aim of the challenge was to gather evidence for Eco-Schools’ Step 5: Informing and Involving, which would help them in meeting the criteria to achieve their Eco-Schools Green Flag. The grand prize in the competition was a £250 donation from UK recycling company Viridor, towards a school’s Green Flag fee.

Both Jamie (Year 4) and Chloe (Year 3) clinched the first-place prize in the Winning Pupil’s category. They were each awarded with an ASD Paipo Elite High-End Body Board donated by Ocean Recovery Project and Fillosophy Ltd.

Emily, Nicholas and William were the joint second place Winning Pupils.

Jamie said: “In our house we have always recycled and tried to be eco-friendly and thought we had a good understanding but since doing the challenges, we have learned so much more. We have been able to recycle more with the information given and know we are doing things properly with confidence.”

Chloe said: “We are amazed that we have won. It was a joint effort and we feel proud that we completed the challenges as a family. We feel much more passionate about saving our plant. So, thank you for helping us on our Eco journey.”

All the winners impressed the judges with their entries which met the competition’s judging criteria to complete the challenges, involve family members and to demonstrate impact.

Some 279 students took part in the competition from 30 Eco-Schools across the south west of England. Great Torrington Secondary School in North Devon was the winner of the grand prize.

Damers First School Eco Coordinator Edd Moore said: "We are very proud and delighted for the children who have come joint first and second. They really enjoyed taking part in the Circular Citizens Microplastic Challenge which engaged the whole family as it became a daily talking point. All the families learned so much which has helped them change their ways for the better and has inspired them to continue this journey themselves."

Viridor Director of Innovation and Regulations Environment & Sustainability, Tim Rotheray, said: “I am delighted that Viridor has had the opportunity to support the Eco-Schools Challenge by funding the development of the Challenge mobile app. "We have always encouraged a shift in behaviour towards waste through education because we know that people really want to do the right thing and recycle more. "We believe that the competition was a creative and engaging way to inspire young people to begin to think about recycling, using our beautiful South West coastline as a powerful inspiration. and the crucial role that we can all play in maximising opportunities to reduce, reuse and recycle. Congratulations to all the winners for their wonderful achievement.”

Fillosophy Ltd Founder Sylvie Verinder said: “I am immensely grateful to Viridor for sponsoring the Challenge and to the children, their families and teachers for the incredible engagement. It has proven that the right communication can have very positive and measurable environmental impact. I hope that we can now develop it further and make it available to the wider Eco-Schools community.”

Keep Britain Tidy Deputy Chief Executive Richard McIlwain said: “In a decade within which we need to urgently address some of our most pressing environmental problems, its vital that we not only educate young people about the challenges but also drive development of the pro-environmental behaviours required and the Challenge app is a fantastic example of a resource that does both. It’s so important that young people learn about the plastic pollution problem threatening our oceans and I’d like to congratulate the winning students but also all of the schools and students who participated and who now have a chance to put their learning to use in becoming part of the fight back on plastic pollution.”