A SCOUTS group in Flintshire have been thanked by a BBC naturalist for grilling councillors over climate action.

The 1st Bistre Scouts, based in Buckley, were given a remarkable opportunity to make their voices heard as they took centre stage at Flintshire County Council's Lord Barry Jones Chamber.

The Scouts had the privilege of questioning some of Flintshire Council's leading figures on climate change. This included cabinet member for climate change, Cllr David Healey, chair of Climate Committee, Cllr Alasdair Ibbotson, and program manager for Climate Change at Flintshire Council, Alex Ellis.

The Leader:

Chaired by Cllr Gladys Healey, the event was not only a chance for the Scouts to pose their burning questions but also a significant occasion for them all. As a testament to her support, Cllr Gladys Healey was proudly inducted as an honorary 1st Bistre Scout, an honour she humbly accepted.

The event was orchestrated by Councillor Dan Rose, representing Buckley Bistre West, who had spent several weeks preparing the Scouts for this occasion. Their preparation included learning about climate change and formulating questions for the panel. 

The event, which took place ahead of COP28, which begins next month, allowed the Scouts to conduct their own mini summit on climate change, echoing the worldwide discussions that will take place in the UAE in November.

The Leader:

Cllr Rose expressed his immense pride in the Scouts, describing them as articulate, knowledgeable, and passionately committed to climate change. 

He said: "They asked some truly challenging questions, and the panel members were impressed by their engagement. I was delighted to observe the Scouts' transformation from nervousness at the outset to being far more relaxed by the break. I'm certain the snacks helped! A heartfelt thanks goes out to all those who supported the event and to the dedicated Scout Leaders at 1st Bistre Scouts."

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In a truly memorable moment, a video message from renowned Welsh environmentalist and presenter, Iolo Williams, was played, where he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Scouts for their hard work and dedication to the cause of environmental conservation. This message served as a testament to the far-reaching impact of the 1st Bistre Scouts' efforts.

Caergwrle councillor, Dave Healy, said "It was a pleasure to be invited to the event and to answer questions from the 1st Bistre Scouts. They are a very bright and engaged group of young people, and it was clear that they had put a lot of thought into their questions.

"I was particularly impressed by hearing some projects some of the scouts had already taken action by themselves. To have such proactive younger people already aware of what's needed to change fills me with confidence that the planet will be in safe hands."