Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful was delighted to award West Johnstone Early Learning and Childcare Centre and St Margaret's Primary School in Renfrewshire with an Eco-Schools Green Flag.
The international award recognises nurseries and schools which have demonstrated a commitment to the Eco-Schools Scotland programme and over two years have engaged their whole school community in local climate action.
Pupils took part in a variety of fantastic litter-busting and climate action activities including litter picks, litter surveys, recycling and community clean ups.
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Rona Murray, early education and childcare officer at West Johnstone Early Learning and Childcare Centre said: “This is our fourth Eco Green award that we have got. So it is an amazing achievement. The children worked really hard with litter picking around the community, in the local forest and the local park.
“We did biodiversity learning where we learned about the natural environment. We did birdwatching and made bird feeders. We created a bird hotel in the nursery garden. The kids also recycled batteries, mobile phones and spectacles. The kids had a fabulous time, really.”
Over the past 25 years Keep Scotland Beautiful has supported educators and young people in every local authority area across Scotland through the international Eco-Schools programme, with many of them proudly flying the Green Flag to share and celebrate their achievements.
The programme aims to make action to tackle climate change and environmental awareness an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of schools, for both pupils and for staff. It provides a framework to engage the wider school community in climate action aligned with the purposes of Curriculum for Excellence and Learning for Sustainability.
To complete the Green Flag journey each school has a choice of ten topics to engage with, from climate action, to food and the environment, to litter, to energy. The schools also choose one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to link their Eco-Schools work to.
Catherine Gee, Deputy Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: "I’d like to congratulate the Eco-Committee, pupils and staff at each of these schools, who have stepped up to play their part in combating climate change and achieve their Green Flag Award. It’s great to hear about the progress schools have made towards their Green Flags.
“Across Scotland, educators, young people and children are doing amazing work in their schools and communities to combat climate change – from planting for nature and biodiversity, to cutting energy consumption, reducing water usage, and tackling litter and reducing waste.
“Keep Scotland Beautiful is committed to supporting all our children, young people and educators through the Eco-Schools programme, part of our recently announced Climate Action Schools framework, designed to develop the capacities, skills and attributes required to protect our planet and work towards our goal of a Net Zero future.”
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