GREEN-FINGERED youngsters have earned their school a special award in a prestigious environmental competition.

Stephenson Way Academy in Newton Aycliffe excelled in the Totally Active category at the Total Green School Awards.

The nationwide competition is open to five to year-eleven-year-olds and aims to generate interest in the environment, while raising awareness of the need for sustainable energy sources.

For its entry, Stephenson Way Academy produced a video, ‘From Wilderness to Wonderland,’ which portrays the transformation of the school garden from an open space to a working flower and vegetable patch.

The school is now able to sell its garden produce, and the children’s efforts and enthusiasm for the project were praised by the judges.

In recognition of its achievements, Stephenson Way Academy will receive a certificate and a cheque for £250.

The Total Green School Awards is run by the Young People’s Trust for the Environment in partnership with Total.

This year, entries were received from 34,000 schoolchildren.

For more information on next year’s competition or to see details of previous winners, visit totalgreenschoolawards.org or follow @TOTALGSA on Twitter.