Brighton and Hove's Young Environmentalist of the Year Awards for 2006 were held on Thursday, June 29 at The Old Market.

Local teachers, parents, carers and students nominated members of their school community for this award in recognition of their environmental efforts.

Categories were: recycling, litter, water, energy, transport, school grounds, healthy living and fairtrade, plus an "Eco-Teacher" category.

It was an evening to celebrate the achievements of these young people in our city and all school groups were acknowleged - infant, junior, secondary and special.

Small and big achievements alike were recognised, from a small person turning off dripping taps to teenagers running a fairtrade cafe, from recycling fruit and veg leftovers to learning to use a bus independently.

At last, there is recognition for all the hard work the adults and pupils in our schools are doing to help and promote a sustainable future - and they are our future.

Congratulations to the Brighton and Hove sustainability team and all performers on the night who were brilliant and it was good to see a local actor, Ray Brooks, presenting the final award. Four pupils at my own special school, Patcham House, won awards Sophie Pengilly, Jonathan Rudwick, Jamie Trangmar and Joseph Cooke together, with a runner-up Eco-Teacher award for me. It was definitely an evening to remember.

-Jackie Corbett, Patcham House Special School, Brighton