BEACH Schools South West has been honoured as International Green World Ambassadors at a ceremony in London.

The recognition comes as a result of the environmental success of their Teach on the Beach project, which has also won an International Green Apple Environment Award.

As a result of that success, they are having their winning paper published in The Green Book, the world’s only annual work of reference on environmental best practice that is distributed to environment professionals, universities and libraries around the world by The Green Organisation.

The award judges commented: ‘This outdoor-learning company works with schools to take children out of the classroom and give them rewarding lessons in ecology and safety. Even in places like Cornwall, many children do not get access to the shoreline - so these unusual lessons leave a lasting impression on young minds.’

The winning paper now goes forward for further judging and the possibility of representing the UK in the Brussels-led European Business Awards for the Environment.

‘We are absolutely thrilled to have been given this most prestigious accolade,’ said Beach Schools South West founder Alexis Bowater. ‘Our Teach on the Beach project is transformative and improves the life chances of children, their emotional, physical and mental health and helps them to learn to learn while having fun in the natural environment. ‘Last year 750 disadvantaged children from Devon were given free places on the project, giving many of them their first chance to set foot on a beach.

‘Beach Schools South West’s mission statement is to give every child in the west country access to learning on the beach and we are delighted to be sharing our best practice with environmentalists, teachers and children all over the world.’

The Green Apple Awards are one of the few environmental schemes in Britain that have official status to act as an automatic feeder scheme into the European campaign.

Beach Schools South West received their award at a presentation ceremony in the House of Parliament on Monday, November 16.