A SCHOOL has put plastic bottles to good use by building an eco-friendly greenhouse.

Pupils at Hinguar Primary School, in New Garrison Road, Shoebury, took part in workshops run by TomBartlett, from Cory Environmental, to learn how to “reduce, reuse and recycle”.

After this project, the school’s eco warriors introduced paper recycling stations in each class and set up food waste bins across the school, with collected foods taken to composting bins.

The eco warriors wanted to make the statement that waste can be reused and recycled in a positive way, so decided on a plastic bottle greenhouse.

Eco warrior co-ordinator Ferliene Willis and outdoor learning co-ordinator Debrah Oakley invited families to send in cleaned two litre plastic bottles and welcomed donations of bamboo canes and wood.

About 1,000 plastic bottles were needed to complete the challenge. These were then cut, threaded on to bamboo canes and attached to wooden frames.

Families cleaned and removed labels from the plastic bottles and the caretakers helped to prepare the bottles for threading.

The eco warriors helped to thread the bottles on to bamboo canes and the assembly into a greenhouse structure was completed by two grandparent volunteers, Ann and John Thompson.

To give the greenhouse the personalised Hinguar touch, pupils even included a letter ‘H’ in the detail.

The eco warriors and outdoor learning groups are now keen to use the greenhouse to grow flowers to represent house teams as their first growing project.

Ferliene Willis, assistant headteacher, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the support of children, parents and grandparents to get this project up and running and the continuing support in providing donated materials to sustain future projects, which include poly tunnels for our allotments, mud kitchens for the Early Years and a nature observation area.

“The school is working towards achieving the Green Eco Award and is planning a variety of projects to support the school and local area in being more environmentally friendly.”