A total of 288 schools across NI were awarded the prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag by environmental charity Live Here Love Here this year. This brings the total number of schools flying Green Flags up to 593, or 53% of all schools in Northern Ireland. 14 schools have been awarded in Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area.

Achieving a Green Flag requires schools to participate in a challenging seven stage programme, beginning with the establishment of a pupil-led Eco-Committee, and leading to the development of a school Eco-Code. Schools fly their flags for two years before they must reapply.

Tonagh Primary School was awarded the Eco-School of the Year award for the area. The school was celebrated for several impressive activities including creating a new sensory garden; an anti-idling campaign to reduce congestion at the school gates and participation in a hedgerow planting project. The Eco-School of the Year award is sponsored by Learn Play Nexus.

Eco-Teacher of the year was awarded to Julie McGonigle from Dundonald Primary School. She was praised for her exceptional dedication in guiding the school through a range of environmental projects, including the collection of 350kg of clothing for recycling.

Eco-Pupil of the year was awarded to Eden from Tonagh Primary School. Eden was commended for helping younger classes develop good recycling habits, and delivering an impressive speech at the Environmental Youth Speak Awards.

The Eco-Teacher and Eco-Pupil of the Year awards are sponsored by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Eco-Schools is the largest sustainability education movement in the world, with over 54,000 Eco-Schools worldwide. The programme is managed locally by charity Live Here Love Here and supported by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and ten local councils, including Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

Last year, Northern Ireland became only the second country in the Foundation for Environmental Education Eco-Schools network to achieve 50% of schools with Green Flag status.

Alice Buchanan, Environmental Education Manager at Live Here Love Here said:

“The Green Flag Award ceremonies are a real highlight in the Live Here Love Here calendar. The passion, creativity and dedication of the teachers and pupils we support is truly inspirational, as evidenced by the standard of work this year.
We are proud to be one of the first countries in the world to reach, and now surpass, 50% of schools with an Eco-Schools Green Flag. This achievement is a reflection that schools and young people see the value of environmental education. As we come to the end of this assembly mandate and reform of the curriculum is being debated. environmental education should play a key role in the future.’

Local schools collected their Green Flags at an awards ceremony at Lagan Valley Arts Centre on the 10th June. The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Cllr Brian Higgison.