PRIMARY school pupils from the village of Tedburn St Mary were presented with the prestigious Prince of Wales award 2019 at the Devon County Show this month, for their work tackling plastic pollution in the village. 

Two pupils from Tedburn St Mary Primary, Josie Fry (8) and Zara Jordan (9) collected the award for their project - Tedburn Turns the Tide - in a special ceremony at the Devon County Show on Friday, May 17, along with their teacher Katie Skinner.

The Award, which the Devon County Agricultural Association has run for the past 34 years, is open to Devon-based community projects with entries encouraged from all areas of the community, from schools through to small farm diversification projects.  The emphasis, reflecting HRH the Prince of Wales’ personal beliefs, is on sustainability and young people. 

Tedburn St Mary Primary took the title thanks to a multi-faceted project which not only helped to clear plastic from the village but also aimed to inspire other villagers and effect permanent change in their recycling and plastic-use habits.

The children made a heart-felt plea to their audience to do more to recycle and prevent plastic pollution and received a standing ovation.

The award, which included a cheque for £1,000 to the school, was presented by The Countess of Arran MBE DL, who had been one of the judges.

Billed as Devon’s Big Day Out, the Devon County Show is a showcase for aspects of life and work in the county as well as entertainment, shopping and good food.

The show always has lots to do for all the family.

Early indications suggest more people attended this year’s Show than in 2018.

Organisers are still compiling figures, but say the good weather encouraged more show goers through the gates.

New Show Manager, Sam Mackenzie-Green, said there were more trade stands than for many years, as well as advance ticket sales up by 10 per cent. 

She said 2020 is the Show’s 125th year as a show and added that a number of ideas are being put in place to celebrate this milestone.

A number of local businesses and exhibitors attended the Show and many people from the Crediton area attended.