You are here:

Hilary Benn visits the North East eco-schools, flood prevention, flagship green buildings and ice creams for Environment Secretary in the North East

   

News release

Ref: 109/09
Date: 11 May 2009

Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, spent today in the North East to see some of the great work being done in schools, with sustainable buildings, on farms and on flood prevention in the region.

Mr Benn started his day in the North East by visiting children at the Gosforth Park First School who sit on the school’s eco-council and make group decisions around recycling and sustainability.  The children showed Mr Benn the recycling programme they initiated and their vegetable beds.  The Minister presented the children with vegetable seeds from Kew Gardens to help their plot.  The children spoke to Mr Benn about their interest in protecting the environment and their resources.

Mr Benn said:

“It’s great to meet young people who are so engaged with vital issue of sustainability, and the eco-council is a brilliant idea.  The recycling is making a real difference to the waste the school produces.  I hope the seeds I have bought will help their impressive vegetable garden and the children can enjoy the results later in the year.”

Headteacher of Gosforth Park First School Jini Sara said:

"We are delighted to be receiving a visit from Hilary Benn.  The children, together with staff, parents, governors and the enviro schools team, have worked really hard to look at how they can support the care of the environment.  Looking at various initiatives has made the children much more responsible and this visit is a lovely way of recognising and rewarding their efforts."

Mr Benn then tasted a local treat at a visit to Wheelbirks Dairy Farm in Stocksfield who produce their own ice cream on site from their herd of Jersey cows.  He was able to tour the farm, seeing the production facilities and the cows who have inspired flavours such as Daisy’s Chocolate and Clover’s Strawberry.  He chatted with Hugh Richardson who runs the farm with his brother Tom about their plans to use £159,000 Defra funding from the Rural Development Programme for England to build the area’s first farm-based ice cream parlour.  He also spoke to local farmer Duff Burrell about the bluetongue vaccination programme which Wheelbirks have participated in.

Mr Benn said:

“It’s fantastic to see such an innovative rural business thriving – and I am pleased Wheelbirks has acted on Defra advice on bluetongue vaccination which is vital to the health and wellbeing of our herds.  The ice cream was absolutely delicious and thoroughly deserves all the praise it gets – including those Bronze Good Taste Awards”

One North East’s Rural Board Member, Ian Brown, said:

“Wheelbirks Farm is a glowing example of a local business which has expanded thanks to RDPE funding, which will help the farm develop as a tourist attraction in the region.”

Mr Benn was then able to see the Environment Agency’s display on flood alleviation schemes at Morpeth Library as part of the local consultation on flooding and met with some of the people working on reducing flood risk in the area.

Mr Benn said:

“I know how much people in Morpeth were affected by the catastrophic flooding in 2007 so it’s good to see the Environment Agency working so closely with local families and businesses to help stop a repeat in the future.”

Finally, Mr Benn officially opened the new award-winning Defra building, Lion House, in Alnwick.  He presented staff with their recently won awards for Sustainability Project of the Year from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.  He saw how the building will operate now it is complete and how all staff are working towards using all resources as efficiently as possible.

Mr Benn told staff:
“Lion House is the first building to get an A+ energy performance certificate and since then it’s won a staggering five awards, the latest of which I am proud to present to the team today.  Lion House really shows what can be achieved in sustainable design and it’s great that Defra is leading the way.”

 

End

Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR
Out of hours telephone 020 7270 8960

Public enquiries: 08459 335577
News releases available on our website:
www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development

Page published: 11 May 2009