Willawarrin Public School and Hannam Vale Public School have been selected from over a thousand applicants to be a recipient of a Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant, as part of the supermarkets' commitment to grow the next generation of environmental champions.

The Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program aims to inspire students with hand-on projects focusing on sustainable food production, improving waste management practices and enhancing native habitats.

The program is being funded with proceeds from the sale of the Woolworths 'Bag for good'. Woolworths will be providing up to half a million dollars in grants to more than 500 schools nationally during this first round of the program. 

The local grant will mean Willawarrin Public School and Hannam Vale Public School are now able to develop their proposed project:

Willawarrin Public School

* Project Type: Sustainable food production

* Project Name:Bush Tucker and Community Garden

Hannam Vale Public School

* Project Type: Sustainable food production

* Project Name: Vegetable Garden Upgrade

* Project Info:  We will be increasing the size/scope of our garden, including building two new raised garden beds, planting new vegetables that will increase our capacity to sustain and manage our kitchen, and introducing a native bee motel. The project will include involvement from community members such as parents of students at the school and ex-teachers. Students manage and tend the garden by learning about companion planting, what grows in our climate, and how to care for and nurture the plants. They harvest the vegetables and recycle the seeds for the next appropriate season.

Woolworths Hastings and Macleay Group Manager, Craig Feuz said; "We're so proud and excited to see the funds raised from our 'Bag for good' going directly into our local community through the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program.

"We are inspired by the students at Willawarrin Public School and Hannam Vale Public School who are playing an active role in ensuring a greener future for our community and can't wait to see their project come to life.

"In partnership with our local customers, we can continue to empower this next generation of school students to work towards a more sustainable Australia."

Landcare Australia CEO, Dr Shane Norrish said; "This fantastic response shows the community's passion for caring for the environment. Junior Landcare offers opportunities for sharing knowledge, developing skills and creating experiences that foster connections with the environment and community from childhood to adulthood.

"The projects byWillawarrin Public School and Hannam Vale Public School are highly deserving and we look forward to the students getting hands-on experience and making a difference to their local environment.

The reusable Woolworths 'Bag for good' was launched on June 20 last year, when the supermarket removed single-use plastic shopping bags across all stores nationwide. Since the move, Woolworths has since taken more than two billion single-use plastic bags out of circulation nationwide.