A barn made from straw bales and an eco-friendly family home have shared the honours in the search for north Norfolk's greenest building.The barn is part of an orchard at Salthouse preserving old varieties of apples and pears, kept cool by its naturally- insulated walls.

A barn made from straw bales and an eco-friendly family home have shared the honours in the search for north Norfolk's greenest building.

The barn is part of an orchard at Salthouse preserving old varieties of apples and pears, kept cool by its naturally- insulated walls.

The house, built into the contours of the land at Gimingham also features solar energy, heat exchangers in the lawn, and water from recycled rain.

They were voted joint first in the buildings section of North Norfolk District Council's environment awards as winners were announced at Felbrigg Hall on Friday.

The schools award, co-sponsored by the North Norfolk News, went to Fakenham High's Team Eco, which has drawn up an action plan for reducing waste, saving energy, raising awareness and cutting car use between sites. Highly commended were Stalham High, North Walsham Junior, and Sheringham High.

A community award was also shared by Sheringham Health Centre's physic/sensory garden created by the town's In Bloom team, and the reinstated top common dewpond by Sheringham Town Council. Highly commended were the

Friends of Sadlers Wood at North Walsham, and Southrepps Commons Trust forest school.

Business winners was The Broads by Bike, a free leaflet highlighting safe tracks and points of interest by a group of cycle hire businesses. Second prize went to Wroxham Lions charity shop.

A special award dedicated to the memory of John Sweeney, former leader and chairman of the council, was won by

Roots and Shoots, a revitalised walled garden now growing vegetables at Holt Hall Field Study Centre.

Fakenham High School's Team Eco was formed to brainstorm ideas to improve how key aspects within the school might be addressed, and has drawn up an action plan for reducing waste, saving energy, raising awareness and cutting car use between sites. Students have used recycled materials to make both art and functional pieces of work.

North Walsham Junior School's wildlife garden was formed from a garden that had become overgrown. A bird hide is being set up overlooking the pond and the feeding areas, and wildflowers have been planted to encourage bees, butterflies and moths. Information boards to help identify key species have also been set up, using reclaimed materials.

Sheringham High School Eco Team addresses all sorts of environmental aspects, from waste to energy, in its action plan. They got planning permission for a wind turbine, have started recycling schemes (paper collection and composting food waste) and discussed ways to reduce packaging. They have worked with the primary school that shares the site and are also hoping to develop the wilderness area behind the school.