Havering pupils learn about air pollution with Miles the Mole
Havering Council has officially launched its Miles the Mole air quality campaign.
On Monday 27 March 2017 pupils at St Edwards Primary School, Romford were entertained by a show from Performance in Education (PIE) based around air quality and featuring Miles the Mole – the borough’s new clean air champion.
Miles features in a new video, produced by the Council, in association with TfL and part supported by money from the Mayor's Air Quality Fund. It deals with the issue of how poor air quality has a negative impact on health; what individuals can do to improve the quality of the air locally, and how they can reduce their exposure to it through some simple preventative steps.
It is especially aimed at highlighting the risks to most vulnerable groups, such as the very young and older people, and those with pre-existing health problems, like heart conditions or lung diseases – including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
The film will be distributed to primary schools in the borough along with air quality lesson plans which will feature Miles’ accessories, including posters, badges and Frisbees.
Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Public Health, said:
“Air pollution in London is linked to almost ten thousand premature deaths a year. In Havering our air is cleaner than in most other boroughs and the Council have been working hard to keep pollution to a minimum.
"The Miles the Mole campaign is a great way to get the clean air message into schools and to educate our children and their parents on how we can all help to protect our environment.”
Following the performance pupils got the chance to meet Miles, who was joined by Councillor Philippa Crowder, Mayor of Havering and Councillor Wendy Brice-Thompson, Cabinet Member for Public Health, for a Q&A and photographs.
For more visit our air quality page.