SCHEMES enhancing the environment and quality of life in Wyre Forest are among 21 stories "making a difference to the 21st century".

Bishops Wood Environmental Education Centre, near Stourport, and Kidderminster Library have been named by Worcestershire County Council on a list recognising best practice in sustainable green projects and design developments making public buildings more environmentally friendly.

The county council's efforts to raise awareness about energy saving and other maintenance issues among school caretakers also featured on the list.

Two courses on energy saving, run at the Bishops Wood centre, won funding from National Grid, enabling the events to be tailored to fit in with the working patterns of the people they were aimed at.

Topics such as heating controls and oil and gas consumption were covered and participating caretakers were encouraged to talk about their own experiences.

Groups of pre-school children from Kidderminster, Bewdley and Wolverley have benefited from another of the projects listed - Forest Schools which enables youngsters to learn how to build shelters and study berries and fungi, among other activities.