Bradleys Both children help celebrate tenth anniversary of 'Power Down Pete'

Power Down Pete is a member of North Yorkshire County Council’s Energy and Sustainability team and has been spreading the message to schools about reducing waste, energy and water and reusing and recycling wherever possible for ten years.

He teaches pupils about how their actions can have wide-reaching impacts on the rest of the world and, with warnings about climate change and global warming regularly hitting the headlines, Pete’s messages are becoming increasingly important to both school pupils and staff.

Bradleys Both primary is already taking energy conservation very seriously, with its own eco warriors who switch off lights and computers and help with recycling. Pupils also recently voted to get rid of plastic packaging and straws from daily milk and replace them with larger recyclable containers and washable cups.

Headteacher Barry Rodgers said: “It’s been exciting to be chosen to host Power Down Pete’s ten years celebration, and he’s enthused our 135 children about taking better care of our environment. It is so positive for our children to learn about how they can take ownership of ways to protect the world we live in.”

County Councillor Patrick Mulligan, Executive Member for Education and Skills, said: “The energy-saving message has been spread widely across North Yorkshire, with over 60,000 children taking part in Power Down Pete’s assemblies and almost 40,000 pupils attending his workshops.Pupils who were visited by Power Down Pete at their primary school still remember his environmental messages now they are at secondary school.”

Bradleys Both pupils helped Power Down Pete to celebrate his tenth birthday by sharing a piece of birthday cake and taking part in workshops, including cycling the Energy team’s energy bike, planting vegetables with Grow 2 School, learning about global issues with Craven Development Education Centre and making smoothies with the North Yorkshire Rotters.