Trusty the Hedgehog | The National Trust

Thanks for all your great competition entries! As you probably know, some of my hedgehog pals have been getting confused about whether to stay in hibernation or get up and get moving. That's just one reason why it's great to see that lots more humans suddenly seem to be taking notice of what's happening to the world. I was really impressed that so many of you are taking small steps that can lead to a big change. Each of the entries here wins a wind-up radio so you can listen to your favourite station without using batteries or plugging into the mains!

Part of Matt's competition entry, telling how he helps grow food in the garden.

From Matt, age 11, Liskeard, Cornwall

Matt sent a nine-page project of all the things he and his family are doing!

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Part of Daisy's competition entry about why we need to recycle.

From Daisy, age 8, Bridgewater, Somerset

This is just part of Daisy's entry, which explores why we need to recycle, what Daisy and her family are doing to help, and even looks at ideas for recycled products for schools.

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Issy's entry lists all the ways her family are reducing waste and energy consumption

From Issy, Rye, East Sussex

Here are some of the small steps Issy and her family are taking.

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Some of Bill's two pages of photographs of his family's small steps

From Bill, age 10, Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire

Here are just some of the two pages of photographs Bill sent in of all the small steps his family is taking!

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A poem by Jeevan from Eltham in London:

I look up at the burning sun
Then I look at the damage done
All caused by pollution
Then I found a solution
I put out the rubbish to recycle
And travelled to school by bicycle
To help wildlife I plant flowers
And use water collected from showers.

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A photograph of some of Thomas's recycling

From Thomas, age 6, Thornbury, Gloucestershire

I put paper in the paper bag. I put empty washed tins in a bag and foil. We clean glass bottles and jars. These go on the SORT IT van.

We take plastic bottles to the bank at the car park. And weeds and cardboard go in our big green bin. Our vegetable skins go in our garden compost. We even put our old shoes and clothes out so someone else can use them.

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Some of Hannah's entry showing what she and her family are doing to reduce waste and energy use.

Part of the entry from Hannah, age 11, from Monksparth, West Midlands.

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From Charlie, age 8, Amport, Hampshire.

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From Thomas, age 8, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.

Compost can be cool

We have a big garden and that is a good reason for composting! I help my dad to make rich compost which we put on our soil to help the plants to grow.

To make the compost we use:

Windfall apples or pears
Shredded hedge and shrub trimmings
Vegetables/fruit peel
Paper shreddings
Grass cuttings
Horse manure that has been left in the lane outside!

We have:

4 compost bins
3 compost compounds
1 grass pile

If you make compost you:

Help to make the environment greener.
Make plants healthier. So you make us healthier too, because we eat the fruit and vegetables!

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D.A.R.E. - DeLisle Agency for Recycling and the Environment

Dear Trusty,

We are D.A.R.E (DeLisle Agency for Recycling and Environment) and we would like to introduce ourselves to you. D.A.R.E. are a group of students who have joined together to start an Eco-Club. The aim of our group is to help the planet and the environment and to reduce the impact our school has on the environment by making DeLisle Catholic Science College greener! We meet every Thursday lunchtime to come up with new ideas.

Yours sincerely,

Miss Badock (chairperson), Sam (spokesman) Jake (finances), Robby (campaigner), Matt (environmentalist), Rosie (publicity)

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