A PEN recycling point has been installed at Holsworthy Library in conjunction with the work Bradworthy Primary Academy are undertaking to become ‘more eco-friendly’.

The idea is that members of the public can pop in to the library and drop off their old writing implements — any brand of old pen or pencil etc. — these are then passed on to Bradworthy Primary Academy to be added to their official collection point for the BIC recycling scheme.

Cover teacher Mrs Sadie Davies said: “Our work to become more green probably started about 12 months ago when we joined the ‘Plastic Free Schools’ initiative run by Surfers Against Sewage [SAS], a group I volunteer for.”

Bradworthy Primary Academy were the ninth school in the country to join SAS’s Plastic Free Schools initiative and Mrs Davies said it really snowballed from there. “It was at a time when plastic pollution was a hot topic and programmes like David Attenborough’s Blue Planet etc. were on. The children were concerned with what they saw so we held an action day where we gave up single use plastic for a day,” she said. “The children also wrote to the Prime Minister and our local MP Geoffrey Cox.”

The whole school then got involved and the plastic free revolution started to build momentum. Mrs Davies said: “The kitchen has done an amazing job and has really got behind the movement. The staff have, where possible, removed single use plastic and have been using things like beeswax wrap instead of plastic cling film and cotton bags to wrap bread, they have really embraced it — the beeswax wrappers actually come from a local lady in the village who was kind enough to donate them, there has been great backing from the community.”

Mrs Davies also gave thanks to classroom assistant Miss Kim Cleave who helped provide the recycling point in Holsworthy Library and others throughout the school. Mrs Davies said: “Kim has been great, she got all the recycling points together — we have ones for pens as well as biscuit wrappers and crisp packets. The kids really love it, they have really gotten behind this project. They hold beach cleans, playing field litter picks and are now working to put together an ‘eco-council’.

“This project started from a small seed and has now begun to flourish. When you look back you realise we have actually done quite a lot in a year and it has been amazing to have the support of parents, who have been really encouraging, and the children have become hyper aware and are even encouraging their parents to go plastic free!”

The school’s drop-off point is situated in Holsworthy Library’s porch and people are welcome to make a donation during opening hours on Monday 2pm to 5pm, Wednesday 10am to 6pm, Thursday 10am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 1pm.