business, education and environment working together motivated New Milton Sand and Ballast to create its Green Bee Schools competition.

The ecologically-conscious company is offering one New Forest school the opportunity to have an environmental project of its choice funded and created up the value of £2,500.

The competition is open to Year 5 and 6 pupils in New Forest schools.

The children are being asked to brainstorm what environmental feature they would like to see built or created in their school grounds.

This can be anything from a pond or the planting of an avenue of trees to creating a special garden or nature walk. An expert panel will then judge the entries, which will be shortlisted to three project before the winner is announced on June 30.

New Milton Sand and Ballast will then finance bringing the winning project to life, as well as offering hands-on help.

The thinking behind the project came from New Milton Sand and Ballast managing director Michael Badcock.

The company already has strong contacts with local schools and regularly hosts educational outings to its site.

"The title Green Bee was given to the competition as this really is an opportunity for business, education and environment to work together. The project is inspiring as it gives purpose to what the children are doing," said Mr Badcock.

Schools interested in entering the competition had until today to register their interest with New Milton Sand and Ballast.