BUDDING film directors at a WGC school have won a green ‘Oscar’ for a movie they made campaigning for polar bears to be protected from environmental harm.

And the school, Applecroft, has been named best in the county for its green travel initiatives.

The film, In Search of the Green Fairy, told the story of how Applecroft pupils, played by animated Lego characters, went to the North Pole and ‘Eco Land’ to find the secretive green fairies, who encourage sustainability campaigns across the world.

In the film the children, acting as themselves alongside a cartoon green fairy, campaigned for more children to use the school’s three environment-friendly walking buses.

The film won Hertfordshire County Council’s Fit and Green short film challenge.

And at the 2011 school travel awards ceremony at Campus West, the Year 5 pupils who made it, Fadhl, Daisy, Harry, Barney, Emma H, Barney, Tom G, Ethan, Catherine and Hannah, took to the stage, watched by proud parents, to receive a video camera prize.

The film was one of the many green initiatives that helped Applecroft win the county-wide School Travel Award at the same event.

A ‘Walk the World’ scheme gives awards to classes that cover the most miles on foot, scooter or by bike on their way to school.

New bike and scooter sheds and regular cycling proficiency courses get more children onto two wheels rather than four. Children also have coaching in safe pedestrian skills.

The school’s eco-council and travel forum meet to promote ideas to keep the initiatives fresh. Recently children took part in a competition to design an Applecroft walking bus logo.

Paul Wyatt, assistant head, said: “The School Travel Award recognises the participation of everyone in and around the school in our efforts to minimise the damage that unnecessary travel to and from school causes.”