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The 2008 Awards were held at Strathburn Primary School, Inverurie. The awards were presented by Mark Stephen, of the BBC's 'Out of Doors' programme.

Strathburn Primary School - Environmental DVD Teachers Fiona Napier, Claire Rankin and Primary 5 pupil Strathburn Primary School in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire decided to make a DVD on aspects of the environment as part of the learning process for their P 5 class topic on Pollution and Conservation. As part of this project, the children carried out research tasks into aspects of the environment these being Air, Land, Water, Transport and Waste including litter.

The children gathered the information using library and internet resources in addition to having guest speakers from industry at the school, supplemented by some site visits. The project findings were produced in the form of a DVD which, we understand, will be distributed to other schools in Aberdeenshire and further afield. The P5 children are the presenters on the DVD.
The project raised awareness of wide environmental and waste issues in the P5 class, the families and friends of the children involved and in the wider school population
The DVD was filmed and produced by the Media Unit of Aberdeenshire Council.
Aberdeenshire Environmental Forum reviewers were very impressed with the standard of presentation and quality of information and had no hesitation in awarding it a Green Butterfly Award. Excerpts from the DVD were shown and Head Teacher Mr. Burnett gave a talk on the educational benefits, for both staff and pupils, which were gained from the project and then accepted the award from Mark.

Strathburn PS Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Care
Teacher S Thom and Pupils
A short presentation the was given by teaching staff directly covering the activities undertaken by this project. Operation of a gardening club with selected pupils. Growing own vegetables then making soup and selling to the teachers. Raised and released butterflies, frogs and ladybirds. Local rainbows helped us insect and bee hotels. Saved a wildlife meadow. Recycle fruit and vegetables (play pieces) for compost bins everyday. The Bennachie Ranger helped make nest boxes. Hope to build a pond this year.

As only one award per applicant is allowed this project is recognised in conjunction with the Strathburn DVD project.

Kemnay Wildlife Explorers Group – Leader Dr Jim Piggins Environmental Care (Young peoples branch of the RSPB) led for the past 14 years Dr Jim Piggins, the group, although the primary interest is in birds, also undertakes a range of other activities in educating individuals in observing, studying and supporting wildlife.Prior to accepting the award on behalf of the group, Dr Jim Piggins gave a verbal presentation emphasizing that the contribution of time and effort by a number of like minded individuals, over a number of years, has been a major factor in making it a success.

Tyrie Primary School near Fraserburgh Teacher Sheena Aitkenhead and pupils Creative Wildlife Conservation/Environmental Care/Environmental Awareness Following an introduction by Sheena Aitkenhead, pupils Jack and Mirren gave a power point presentation and accepted the award from Mark. Tyrie School has a roll of about 40 pupils – A policy of active involvement in caring for and enhancing the environment is established and ongoing.

Plans of action already fulfilled include - recycling centre for village/surrounding area set up in playground - eco community garden created featuring extensive hedging and tree planting by pupils, staff, parents and community residents – bird feeding station set up with ongoing supply of bird food made by pupils through winter season - insect box installed - compost bin established and in use - eco – school newsletter edited by pupils re local environmental issues distributed to parents and local residents.
The extent to which the local community has been engaged in developing and achieving works undertaken to date is impressive and this in turn has raised local environmental awareness and pride in the area. While much of the effort has obviously developed from the eco schools programme, the community education and participation elements make this a project worthy of an award.

Banchory Bags Campaign – Christina Brown Environmental care Christina gave a short presentation covering the background a, development and operation of the project prior to accepting the award. The Banchory bags campaign was started with the aim of reducing the number of single-use plastic carrier bags given away in Banchory each year. Shopper and trader surveys were undertaken, much media publicity generated and sponsored “Cleaner, Greener, Banchory” bags were produced and given away at St Ternan’s Fair in June. Approx. 3 million single – use bags were given away before the campaign started but traders report a two- thirds reduction since the project started .

The campaign has caught the imagination of the community and engaged people of all ages. The campaign has been supported by Aberdeenshire Council with a special event incorporating the Waste Aware Bus in June. Undoubtedly, the campaign has galvanised residents and traders into action. It is producing results with lasting effects and which instils pride in the community and in their environment

Insch Meadow Group – Janette Taylor Creative Wildlife Conservation Prior to accepting the award Janette gave a short presentation covering main aspects of the project. Insch Meadow Group – a sub group of Bennachie Community Council with the help of a Breathing Space Grant transformed a piece of land for the community to enjoy. They installed picnic tables, a viewing platform beside the rejuvenated pond and bird feeding station. To increase the biodiversity of the site a wildflower meadow was sown and over 250 wildflowers planted. Courses through NESBReC were also run to help improve knowledge of the area.

Kemnay Primary School Teachers Anne Laing – Mrs Mitchell and Pupils Environmental Care The school did a waste audit and realised they had a lot of organic waste. They worked with a local business in Kemnay and every Wednesday the children collect all food waste from school kitchens etc and chop up and give to a wormery that is set up underneath a hairdressers in Kemnay. The hairdresser composts their hair waste and needed more organic waste! Long term the school hopes to do this daily alongside their own composting bins!