Eco warrior gets praise from Macca
A CAMPAIGN led by a young ecowarrior could see ‘Meat Free Mondays’ introduced in primary schools across Trafford – and has even won the approval of Sir Paul McCartney.
Lyla Springate, 10, is on a mission to save the planet and started by changing her own world – at her primary school in Sale.
Animal-lover Lyla, who was raised a vegetarian, began her crusade after researching Linda McCartney for a school project.
The Sale youngster had always loved Linda McCartney sausages but had no idea the late animal rights activist, and her former Beatle husband, had founded the Meat Free Monday movement.
Inspired to take her project further, Lyla asked her headteacher at The Firs Primary School if they could introduce the day at their school.
Lyla and her friends, dubbing themselves The Planet Savers, went round the playground collecting signatures from pupils as well as school staff. By the end of the week they had gathered more than 100 signatures and persuaded the school to vote in favour of Meat Free Mondays.
All primary school meals across the borough are provided by Trafford council – so Lyla took her campaign to the town hall.
The Planet Savers wrote a letter to the council, urging them to introduce Meat Free Monday across all schools in the borough.
To Lyla and the school’s delight, the council agreed to let The Firs have a Meat Free Monday from next week, and to allow other schools to do so from September.
Lyla’s mum, Sam Walker, said: “We have always been vegetarian in our house, so Lyla had never even heard of Meat Free Monday. She loves animals and Blue Planet, and Linda McCartney sausages. She was thrilled when she discovered Linda was married to one of The Beatles. The project combined all of her favourite things and now she and all her little Planet Savers have done something amazing.”
Sam revealed her daughter has even had an email from Sir Paul himself, congratulating her.
He wrote: “Dear Lyla, Wow! I love your story and think it is really great that you got so many people interested in Meat Free Monday. Long may you continue to feel the way you do and all of us at Meat Free Monday are proud of you.” Nerys Hitchcock, head of The Firs, added: “It’s been really great to have a group of girls who have been so interested and passionate about a cause that was not that high profile.
“They have really brought it to life for the children. It’s great Trafford council were on board so quickly and willing to roll out Meat Free Monday across all schools.”
A Trafford council spokesperson confirmed they would support Meat Free Monday at The Firs.