A TRIP to the zoo for a team of environmentally-aware Caldicot youngsters ended with them being handed a national award.

The pupils from Castle Park Primary School were at London Zoo for the finals of the Total Green School awards.

Their project on "Our Carbon Footprint" won the Totally Clued Up category for Wales and western England.

Castle Park opened in 2011 and was the first of a new-style of eco-friendly "learning plaza".

After the official opening last October the children began looking at how their behaviour has an impact on the planet.

They challenged celebrities in letters on what they were doing to reduce their carbon footprints and the children looked at their own impact on the environment.

They also wrote songs on an environmental theme and recorded their music.

Teacher Sue Wilsher said: "This was a project that really captured the children's imagination.

"The Total Green School Awards are a fantastic way to encourage young people to think about the impact that we are having on the environment and the children have learned so much as a result.

"In a school that is very environmentally aware, it has been lovely to see the children's interest and knowledge grow and to see them becoming active environmentalists". 

Twenty seven children aged 10 and 11 travelled to the zoo to receive the award and £1,000 for their school.