Caerphilly County Borough Council (CCBC) has unanimously voted to become a Deforestation-Free Champion Council, marking a major step forward in its commitment to sustainability, climate action, and responsible food sourcing.
The decision follows an innovative and collaborative initiative led by Councillor Carol Andrews and Council Leader Jamie Pritchard, which invited local Year 6 pupils from Waunfawr Primary School in Crosskeys to take part in the democratic process and help shape the discussion ahead of the vote.
Before councillors cast their decision, they went back to school – sitting alongside pupils, procurement officers, and catering teams to explore the connection between everyday ingredients such as palm oil, soy used for animal feed, beef from South America, cocoa, and coffee, which often end up being served on school menus, and the destruction of tropical forests.
Over several weeks, the children shared their knowledge, challenged assumptions, and proposed practical solutions for creating school meals that are nutritious, affordable, and free from links to deforestation.
Far from being a symbolic exercise, the pupils’ contributions were treated as meaningful input into public policy, with council departments including procurement, catering, and education actively engaging with their recommendations.
Supporting the initiative, Angharad Underwood of the Cook Along Clwb and James Nathan, MasterChef champion, helped the children as they cooked and prepared their deforestation free dish for both the public at the Caerphilly Food Festival and the Councillors, that reinforced the importance of sustainable food choices and responsible sourcing.
The council’s decision reflects the ambitions of the Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, demonstrating how intergenerational collaboration can deliver practical solutions to global challenges and show how Wales can be a globally responsible nation.
The vote comes at a critical time. Following last week’s heatwave across Wales, communities are increasingly feeling the direct impacts of climate change. Forests play a vital role in cooling the planet by absorbing carbon and regulating rainfall and temperatures. This work has been supported by Size of Wales, the charity leading the campaign for Wales to become the world’s first deforestation-free nation with funding from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) Foundation.
Nichola James, from Size of Wales said: “As Wales feels the effects of climate change more directly, protecting forests has never been more urgent.”
Councillor Carol Andrews said: “This vote is a significant step for the council and for our community. By listening to our young people, we’ve been able to strengthen our understanding of the impact our choices have on global forests and take meaningful action.”
Melissa Armishaw, Headteacher at Waunfawr Primary School, said:
“This project has had a profound impact on our children. It has shown them that their ideas, knowledge and passion can shape real decisions and influence the future of their community. They have learned not only about tropical forests and climate change, but about democracy, responsibility and the power of their voices.”
