THE WINNERS of this year's Chamber of Commerce Education Challenge has been announced. 

Salisbury Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Journal and Salisbury BID invited students to come up with ideas and actions that will help tackle climate change both in Salisbury and more widely. 

There were two joint winners: a team from Bishop Wordsworth School on tackling food waste and a student from Leehurst Swan School on greening the city centre - and elsewhere.

The runner up was the Eco Council from Downton Primary School planning a campaign to stop people idling their car engines.

Bishop Wordsworth

The team of Bishops proposes solutions to reducing food waste in Salisbury, such as introducing food waste bins into homes and potentially hospitality services such as restaurants. 

The team also suggests having the bins "reflect Salisbury and Wiltshire's character and be aesthetically pleasing so people will want them in their homes."

"Once food waste is collected use the methane produced and turn it into biogas which can generate electricity for the National Grid or fuels for the transport industry", they say. 

Leehurst Swan

Pearl Veratau from Leehurst Swan wants to improve the greenery in the city centre, by planting trees in the Old George Mall, and wants to see more wild planting to encourage insects and wildlife. 

Pearl says 'green walls' will also improve the look of the city, as well as having a positive impact on people's health, alongside the environmental benefits. 

Downton Primary School

The idea from the Eco Council at Downton Primary School is to stop people "idling" in their cars. 

The entry says: "It is bad for the planet and your lungs.  The fumes pollute the atmosphere and exhaust fumes are released at push chair height. It contributes to global warming.

"We have made posters telling people to stop idling. We have also made a video about how bad idling is for everyone for our school website."  

Next term the Eco Council is going to write to the local parish council and a local car company to see if they will support its ideas.

The Chamber will give all three small sums of £50-100 to promote their ideas and look for further support.

Peter Thompson, Chamber of Commerce Education Adviser said: "The judges were really impressed by the quality of the winning entries and the insight and awareness of the students and their ideas to help tackle Climate Change. I hope they will receive the wide support and endorsement they deserve".