The Estates and Facilities team at King’s Mill Hospital is educating children about the inner workings of a hospital site and how it keeps its carbon footprint down.

Children from Dalestorth Primary School were invited to the hospital as part of the Junior Environmental Champions scheme to receive talks from Skanska’s Damian Kilday and Stuart Locking about the hospital’s revolutionary geothermal heating system.

The largest of its kind in Europe, the system consists of seven huge radiators sunk into King’s Mill Reservoir. It is connected to the hospital under the A38 by bore pipes and has halved the hospital’s carbon footprint, saving Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust £120,000 in fuel bills each year.

Alan Franks, of Medirest, gave home energy-saving advice and explained the various ways the hospital recycles.

The children produced posters that will be displayed across the hospital, promoting green energy and encouraging members of staff to recycle. They were awarded a certificate and a goody bag.

Julie Dennis, facilities management performance and quality manager, who organised the event, said: “It was a great opportunity for children to view the workings of hospital from behind the scenes, as well as develop relationships with the local community.”

Maddison Piddock, (nine), said: “The trip was fun and interesting because we made posters of Going Green. I found out how the hospital saved energy.”

Karis Robinson, (nine), said” “I found out interesting facts such as solar energy is used to save money.”