School pupils’ design hits the road in St Andrews

Pupils at a St Andrews Primary School are proud to watch their artwork driving round the town after winning an environmental competition.

Primary six youngsters at Lawhead Primary in the town, created the winning designs for the University of St Andrews 100% electric vehicle.

Earlier this year, the University’s Environment Team ran a competition with the class to design a green image to celebrate the van’s green credentials.

Dubbed the “Wee Green Machine”, the electric vehicle is used by the University’s Estates Department for work around the University gardens and estate, and is one of the many practical ways in which the University is taking carbon reduction seriously.

Before creating their designs the pupils learned how the van is not powered by fossil fuels, but gets plugged into a power source every night.

Designs by the pupils included images of trees, turbines, rainbows and featured slogans such as “eco rocks!”

Three designs were chosen to both sides and the back doors of the van and, at an unveiling ceremony, the fully designed van was revealed to the Lawhead Primary School students.

The local St Andrews Waterstones branch provided prize packs for the three students whose designs made it onto vehicle.

Wendy Garty, the P6 teacher at Lawhead, said the kids were proud to see their artwork on the side of the van.

She added: “The whole class loved taking part and the competition made them think and get excited about the green message, especially as it tied in well with work that we have been doing in class.”

Lucy Arndt, Sustainability Officer at the University, said: “It has been inspiring for us to see the enthusiasm and creativity of the children in depicting a sustainability message.

“We love the result and are pleased to have our environmental ambassador, the Wee Green Machine, driving around town.”

The green art competition is part of a move across the University to engage in outreach to the local community around environmental issues.

Earlier this year, the student and staff group Transition University of St Andrews joined with community group St Andrews Environmental Network to form a partnership that was awarded £347,770 by the Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund to run practical carbon cutting projects with town and gown.

Have you spotted the Wee Green Machine? Upload your sighting to www.facebook.com/weegreenmachine

Note to Editors

A photo opportunity is available at Lawhead Primary School, Lawhead School Wynd, St Andrews, KY16 9NG at 1.30pm on Monday 21 May.

Lucy Arndt is available for comment on 01334 467406.

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews
Contact Fiona MacLeod on 01334 462108/ 0771 414 0559.
Ref: (greenvan 21/05/12)
View the University’s latest news at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/news/