Tytherington School hosted Macclesfield’s first ever schools’ Eco-Summit on Tuesday [20 June]. The event was planned, run and hosted entirely by students.

In the morning, students attended a Green Jobs Fair with around 20 businesses followed by a series of workshops focusing on how to make Macclesfield more sustainable.

Throughout the week, tutor groups submitted questions for a BBC Question Time style panel of guests:

· Manny Botwe. Headteacher Tytherington School.

· Mark Lancelott. Sustainability Consultant. Marks children attend the school.

· Paul Gibbons. MD of Decipher Consulting and ambassador for RICS. Paul’s children attend the school.

· Tom Eccles. Chair of Save Dane Moss group. (Tom is an alumnus of the school).

· Dr Ruth Thompson. Macclesfield Town Councillor.

Local cooperative Scoop and Scales have offered students a £500 prize to design and produce and eco-friendly product, a competition open to students across Macclesfield.

Headteacher Mr Botwe said he was proud that the Tytherington School is a trailblazer in the region as they are currently installing air-source heat pumps at a cost of £900,000 to reduce the school’s carbon footprint and energy bills.

Mr Gibbons challenged the school to consider installing photo-voltaic panels. Dr Thompson encouraged students to write not just to their local MP, David Rutley, but also to local Town and Cheshire East councillors to ask what they are doing to tackle the climate change crisis.

Mr Eccles spoke passionately about the need for direct action to protect Danes Moss, the huge area of peatland south of Macclesfield, pointing out that whilst only 3% of the planet is covered in peatland, Danes Moss could hold more than a quarter of a million tons of CO2.

Mr Lancelott reflected on his participation in the COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow in 2020 and explained how we need to think long-term about reducing the costs of eco-products to make them more affordable.

There was also a lively debate about the need to provide affordable housing. Dr Thompson discussed the importance of using brownfield sites in Macclesfield. Mr Eccles complained about the huge amount of empty investment properties and second homes in areas like Prestbury and Alderley Edge.

All the panellists stressed that the future is in the next generation’s hands. Asked what the biggest thing individual students can do, Mr Eccles told students to ditch their smart phones and be inspired by nature. Mr Gibbons and Mr Botwe urged students to use their leverage with their families to talk about reducing holiday air-miles, heating bills and fast-fashion.

Next steps for the school’s Eco-Committee include improving paper and pen recycling, propagating and watering plants to create biophilic classrooms, starting litter-picking and waste-management groups as well as promoting other means of sustainability in our school.