Diana Wallis MEP meets young Environmentalists in Harrogate

11.00.00am GMT Wed 30th Jan 2008

Diana Wallis MEP voted greenest MEP in the Region meets young people in Harrogate

Diana Wallis, Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire and the Humber visited New Park School to meet the children and volunteers who have worked hard to create 'The Secret Railway Garden'.

The School was keen to capture their local heritage and the Parent Teacher Association started a small wildlife garden project close to the old railway line. Parent Jill Clarke has laid out flower tubs around the school and planted out the wild flower garden supported by teacher Mrs Val Gowland-Jones, parents and pupils. The Bilton Conservation Group contributed wild flowers and bird boxes to the scheme. A half-scale model of 'Barber' was recreated from recycled steel and car hubs. 'Barber' was the first locomotive to use this narrow gauge track from the New Park gas works through the railway tunnel under Knox Hill, emerging at the Sykes Grove side of the school.

Diana Wallis later visited the school's 'New Park Heritage Centre' which contains artefacts showing the history of the area.

Diana Wallis, voted the greenest MEP in the Region by Friends of the Earth and a keen environmentalist, chatted to the children at the end of the visit. Diana said " I was very impressed with the enthusiasm and the knowledge that the youngsters have on the environment."