Loch Tummel strikes Eco Challenge Gold.

With Sammi and Lesley away at Pwhelli with the Youth Squad, the order of the day on Saturday was to get Joanne to Perth for the presentation of the Volvo Eco Challenge award to the young environmentalists of Loch Tummel. Pictured with various parents, siblings, club officials and a venerable optimist which is as old as the club commodore, are members of the prize winning team including Joanne Foster, Heather Sword, Jessica Milford and Gavin Logan (all past or present Topper sailors) receiving the £1000 cheque at Strathmore Volvo, Perth. The cash will be used to fund many of the green initiatives which the young sailors suggested around the club. These range from using fuel traps to prevent pollution from spills to using motion sensors on lighting to reduce electricity consumption.

The judging panel which included Volvo Eco Challenge Ambassador and BBC Springwatch presenter, Chris Packham were very impressed by the young people’s ideas and enthusiasm for the project.

Chris Packham commented;

“The Volvo Eco Challenge has really captured the imagination of these young sailors and made them think about simple steps that can be taken to help us all protect our environment. This is only the second year the Challenge has been running and already we have seen some very impressive projects which all the young people involved deserve credit for.”

Mark Barron, Club Commodore at Loch Tummel said:

'Loch Tummel Sailing Club is delighted to have won this award. Our junior sailors have worked very hard to come up with some very good plans to reduce the environmental impact of the club, which should also cut our carbon footprint and reduce our costs. The Volvo Eco Challenge award will now make this plan a reality for 2010.”

Gary Miller from local Volvo dealer Strathmore Perth said;

“We are delighted to be supporting Loch Tummel sailing club and congratulate all the young people involved. Volvo Car UK is committed to reducing environmental impact and the dedication Volvo has shown to our environmental policy dates back to the 1970s. The Volvo Eco Challenge shows what we can help to do in the community and we look forward to hearing more about Loch Tummel’s progress.”

Well done Team Tummel. We look forward to seeing your green initiatives in action when we visit for our Traveller event in September.