Adopt-a-Planet 1,000 Pound competition

Readers are urged to involve their local schools in this competition, sponsored by the Gulbenkian Foundation since the scheme's launch in 1991. It focuses on anti-vandalism and anti-graffiti projects:

'Any class of any age can enter. They must select an area in the neighbourhood to 'adopt' that has been vandalised'

Any class of any age (or any youth club members) can enter. They must select an area in the neighbourhood to 'adopt' that has been vandalised and must draw up and carry out their own imaginative scheme to improve it. The final deadline for entries is October 9th each year. There is no entry form, but entries should ideally include before and after photos, and entries will be judged according to how imaginative the projects are, how persevering, how well written-up; and on the extent to which they have drawn in local support and funding.

The main overall winner for 1991 was:

George Farmer School in Holbeach, Lincolnshire. Here the Year 10 and 11 City and Guilds Land Based Studies Group decided to adopt a disused pond in Holbeach, one mile from the school, which had become, they say 'an eyesore, a dumping site and a general embarrassment.' They got a local contractor to excavate the pond, and the pupils cleared the area and planted shrubs, trees and wild flower seeds. Police and local farmers are helping keep watch over the area to prevent future dumping. The pupils spent the prize money on a bird table, nesting boxes, benches and another small pond.

The other winners were:

'the renovation of a neglected and vandalised area next to Sherwood Library'

Sherwood Park County Primary School in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. They chose to campaign for the renovation of a neglected and vandalised area next to Sherwood Library, and they persuaded the council to order three new seats and two new bins and to make other improvements. They also organised a 'Plant a Bulb for Sherwood Day', and spent their prize money on play equipment for their adopted area. They submitted a giant dossier of their ideas for the area  the project was carried out by pupils throughout the school, ranging in age from four to eleven, using their drawings, paintings, poems, letter writing, site sketching, design and technology skills and vivid imaginations.

Nicholas Albery, General Secretary, the Council for Posterity, 20 Heber Road, London NW2 6AA (tel 081 208 2853; fax 081 452 6434).

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