Schoolgirl Eleisha, 9, from Prenton could be Britain’s unsung eco-champion

Feb 20 2013 by Helen Hunt, Birkenhead News

A YOUNG girl from Wirral is in the running for a top environmental award for her work saving the planet.

Local eco-champion Eleisha Holleron, from Prenton, has been shortlisted in a nationwide search by WWF to find Britain’s unsung environmental heroes.

The competition called ‘Hidden Heroes’ has been launched as part of WWF’s Earth Hour – when hundreds of millions of people across the globe will be turning off their lights for one hour to show they care about the world – and hopes to highlight and recognise inspirational people who have gone the extra mile in helping to improve the environment in their local community.

Eleisha was nominated by her teacher Wendy Pearson after she responded to WWF’s quest to find those who have been helping to improve the environment in their local area.

The nine-year-old pupil of St Joseph's Primary School started an initiative to raise money for mountain gorillas of Central Africa.

Eliesha was inspired to raise funds after reading a WWF newsletter at school.

She enlisted some of her friends to create and distribute 13 posters around her school, to raise awareness, not only to help mountain gorillas but also asking students to cut down on their electricity consumption to save the polar bears in the Arctic.

Ms Pearson said: “I think it’s wonderful that a person as young as Eleisha understands the importance of helping other species on the planet.

“She’s now taking her campaign out of the classroom and into her neighbourhood, asking her neighbour to get involved in her cause.”

The winner receives £500 to support a green initiative of their choice.