To celebrate UN World Water Day which took place today on March 22nd, Nestlé Waters invited pupils from Burbage Primary School and Fairfield Endowed Church of England School to Lightwood to take part in a series of interactive, outdoor classroom sessions where they learnt about the importance of water stewardship. Partnering with the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Project WET, a non-profit organisation promoting water education, approximately 100 pupils from the two schools ventured out to get closer to nature.
Nestlé Waters is a longstanding global supporter of the United Nation’s annual World Water Day initiative, which sees people all over the world taking part in activities promoting the importance of preserving freshwater. This year the theme was ‘The Answer is in Nature’, and the latest activity from Nestlé Waters saw pupils being taken out of the class room for the first time since they launched this local UK initiative in 2013. Students had the opportunity to plant trees and take part in interactive games, bringing to life the best ways to protect and conserve water.
Stephanie Barber, Water and Environment Manager at Nestlé Waters UK said:
“It’s been so rewarding to see local school children interacting with the Lightwood landscape and learning more about their local environment. We hope that the students have all gone home from today full of excitement about water stewardship and the need to cherish this natural resource. Nestlé Waters is very proud to support World Water Day and we look forward to seeing the wildlife and land benefit from today’s activities in years to come.”
Head Teacher for Burbage School Anthony Tierney said:
“Seeing the children get their hands dirty and really interact with the world around them is so encouraging and Nestlé Waters’ World Water Day program provided the perfect opportunity for us to do just that.”
Head Teacher for Fairfield Endowed C of E Junior School Jayne Mercer said:
“The children have been so excited about the activity at Lightwood, all of them were asking questions during the sessions and getting really involved when it came to planting the trees. It’s great to know they can come and see the trees they’ve planted for years to come.”
Nestlé Waters is committed to responsibly stewarding water resources at all of its sites. This is embedded in the company’s purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future. Nestlé Waters announced last year that it would further challenge, improve and transform its water stewardship practices through its commitment to certify 20 factories under the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) standard by 2020, one of which includes its Waterswallows Road site in Buxton. AWS leads a global network that promotes responsible use of freshwater that is socially and economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable.
Barber concludes: “Planting a mix of native trees enhances the Lightwood area and extends the habitat available for woodland species, but it also helps improve the water quality downstream by stabalising soil and reducing erosion. Activities like this help us improve the local environment as well as raise awareness of key water related issues in the wider community, which is an important step in promoting responsible water stewardship and working towards a greater good.”
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Nestlé UK Press Office on 020 8667 6005 or email [email protected]
Notes to Editors:
There are the following types of tree species being planted as part of this activity- Pedunculate oak, Goat willow, Rowan, Bird cherry, Hazel, Buckthorn – 30 in total, 5 of each. These species have been chosen because they are native and more typical of upland woods and more likely to survive conditions here.
Nestlé Waters and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are also partners in the local Get Better With Nature initiative for the past four years which aims to help raise awareness and appreciation of the benefits of nature to society and our own health and wellbeing; which we hope will empower people to enjoy the numerous benefits it provides.
Nestlé Waters purchased the former Lightwood Reservoir in in late 2016 as part of their long term strategy to protect water quality and promote environmental stewardship.
About Nestlé Waters
Nestlé Waters “The Healthy Hydration Company”, is the water division of the Nestlé Group and the number one bottled water company worldwide. We operate in 34 production countries with 95 production
facilities and more than 33,700 employees. We are present in most distribution channels and consequently offer a large portfolio of 49 unique brands. In the UK these include our local brands, Buxton Mineral Water and Nestlé Pure Life as well as our international sparkling water brands Perrier and S.Pellegrino.
World Water Day
World Water Day is an international observance and an opportunity to learn more about water related issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference. World Water Day dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development where an international observance for water was recommended. The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day. It has been held annually since then. Each year, UN-Water — the entity that coordinates the UN’s work on water and sanitation — sets a theme for World Water Day corresponding to a current or future challenge. The engagement campaign is coordinated by one or several of the UN-Water Members with a related mandate.
For more information about UN World Water Day, please visit: www.unwater.org/campaigns/world-water-day/en/
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, a Registered Charity, is the only organisation working to protect all wildlife across the county. They are one of 47 in The Wildlife Trusts Partnership, a nationwide network of local trusts. They manage 41 nature reserves throughout Derbyshire, advise local authorities and landowners on nature conservation issues and run a range of conservation and education projects. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust are committed to The Wildlife Trusts’ strategy of creating Living Landscapes – robust, connected landscapes that address the challenges facing our wildlife and countryside.
For more information, please visit: www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk
Project WET
Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation has been dedicated to reaching children, parents, teachers and community members with action-oriented water education that enables every child to understand and value water, ensuring a sustainable future. Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is active in all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries worldwide. Nestlé Waters Ltd. have been a global partner for the past 25 years.