Mitchell Morgan and Ryan Knapp, 10, with Tom Walters, nine, making shelters for insects Picture Ref: 77565-39WROUGHTON should be a greener place in the future after 100 youngsters attended an Earth Summit.

Nine and ten year olds from Wroughton Junior School were the first to visit the summit at Roves Farm in Sevenhampton, near Highworth, to learn about environmental issues.

Over the next three days seven more primary schools from across Swindon will take part in the event, which is the second of its kind to be organised by Swindon Council's Local Agenda 21 team.

"The children had a fabulous time," said Lynn Forrester, the Agenda 21 manager. "They really, really enjoyed themselves.

"When you take them out of the school environment it is amazing how much more the messages mean.

"They are all going back with a greater understanding of what they need to do to protect the planet."

The event, which, is being sponsored by Nationwide and the Evening Advertiser, will see 376 Year 5 pupils visit the farm over four days.

The children take part in workshops on topics including climate change, transport, waste and recycling, sustainable lifestyles and water.

They also get a chance to make bug-houses and recycled paper, go on a treasure hunt around the farm and have a tractor ride.

And, for the children from Wroughton Junior School yesterday there was no escape from the environmentally-friendly message of the day even at lunchtime.

"They were given the task of coming with a waste-free lunchbox," said Mrs Forrester. "That was great because when they were having their lunch they were thinking about how to reduce waste.

"Generally it meant they had much healthier food, like fresh fruit.

"The lunchtime entertainment was provided by Ridgeway School. They performed Ridgeway Stomp, their version of the show Stomp, and the younger children had to come along with an instrument they made at school from rubbish.

"They had made shakers and drums and wonderful instruments."

The other schools taking part are Southfield Junior, St Catherine's Primary, Lawn Primary, Westrop Primary, Salt Way Primary, Freshbrook Primary and Windmill Hill Primary.

The Earth Summit is run in partnership with a range of organisations including Roves Farm, Thames Water, WRc Plc, Swindon Council Rangers, Artscape, Transport and Recycling, Ridgeway Secondary School, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and the Primary Care Trust.

Isabel Field