It’s not always easy to be green but schools across Wales have shown that with a bit of effort it can be achievable. Eco-Schools Wales, an inititiative run by environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy, recently held its first ever National Eco Committee to celebrate ecologically aware pupils and teachers.
Winners of the Platinum Green Flag which is awarded to the most environmentally friendly schools attended an event at the Welsh Assembly Government Building in Builth Wells where they pledged to encourage more young people to protect the planet.
The Eco-Schools International Green Flag is a recognised and respected eco-label for performance in education for sustainable development. There are presently over 90% of schools in Wales registered on the Eco-Schools programme but only 18 have received the top platinum award.
The event provided children with the opportunity to discuss why Eco-Schools is a good programme to be involved with and how to make it work even better by sharing their knowledge and experience. The pupils came up with answers to some questions that schools ask about Eco-Schools, providing some interesting thoughts. They also had the chance to plan an ideal ‘2020 School of the Future’. There were some fabulous designs, including grey water harvesting, alternative energy sources and even a gym to produce electricity. Of course, every school had a green flag flying proudly.
The National Eco Committee is now on the case to encourage all schools in Wales to join the scheme. Eco-Schools Officer for South Wales Bryony Butcher said, "We now have a wealth of ideas and some excellent ambassadors to drive Eco-Schools forwards and support each other including circulating regular top-tips, sharing good ideas via websites, producing eco-videos and much, much more."
Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School from Rhondda Cynon Taff recently made history by becoming the first secondary school in Wales to receive the Platinum Flag in recognition of projects done in a number of fields. The school has created an extensive area on site, The Celynnog Nature Reserve, which is maintained by the students and used as a teaching resource. Fruit and vegetables are also grown there and later sold in the school canteen. Elected members of the student council have actively encouraged the school community to use less paper and energy by creating a ‘Choose to Reuse’ campaign which has proved to be very successful.
Keen to extend its ‘green’ attitude to others, Bryn Celynnog works with local charity PONT which attempts to help the people of Mbale in Uganda, through links with Wales. A number of students have visited Mbale and returned to share the experience with the rest of the school.
Estela Pereira, International Eco-School Co-ordinator, visited the school to present the award. She said, "I can now go to other schools around the world and tell them what I have seen at Bryn Celynnog. It is a real validation of the work carried out by Eco-Schools."
Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive Lesley Jones said, "The Platinum Award celebrates the achievements of schools whose pupils and teachers have shown how much they want to protect the environment. It is these people who can inspire others to help us ensure that we live in a clean, safe and tidy Wales. The National Eco Committee is an excellent opportunity for young people to think of ways to do this".