News 

Northern Ireland’s award-winning beaches and marinas have been revealed at a ceremony at Belfast Harbour Office.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, who manage the accreditations locally, announced 22 winning sites, spread across 5 council areas. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is home to more than half the winning sites - earning an impressive 12 awards in total. Other winning sites are spread across Ards and North Down, Newry Mourne and Down, Belfast and Mid Ulster council areas.

16 sites across Northern Ireland earned the iconic Blue Flag Award- one of the world’s most recognised awards for beaches and marinas. Winning sites met international standards in criteria such as safety, accessibility, cleanliness, environmental education and, for beaches, water quality.

Environmental education is a key element of the Blue Flag programme. Initiatives undertaken by this year's winning sites included the launch of the Maritime Mile Discovery Trail at Belfast Harbour, in partnership with the Belfast Maritime Trust; a lizard adventure walk at Tyrella beach; and interactive Beach Schools NI workshops at Portrush East Strand.

A further 6 beaches received Seaside Awards, the UK’s mark of quality that ensures visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, safe, attractive, and well-managed coastal stretch.

Eric Randall, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said:

“We are extremely pleased that 22 beaches and marinas are being recognised with either a Blue Flag or a Seaside Award. Northern Ireland can rightly be proud of the amazing beaches and marinas we have to enjoy. Our offering is world class, and the public can be assured of an excellent experience when they visit one of these sites.

As we recognise these areas, we need to take steps to protect them for future generations. All parts of government and society must proactively adopt approaches that reverse the devastating impact of the climate emergency and ensure that these areas thrive into the future.”

Speaking at the ceremony the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir MLA, took the opportunity to announce the expansion of the bathing water programme with the imminent formal identification of seven new bathing water sites.

Minister Muir said:

“I am once again delighted that Northern Ireland has been awarded sixteen Blue Flag and six Seaside winning sites. These iconic awards demonstrate the hard work of councils, volunteers and operators in meeting and maintaining international standards. The awards assure residents and visitors alike that they are guaranteed to find a clean, safe, attractive and well-managed beach or marina to enjoy.

My Department ‘identifies’ the bathing waters that are most popular with swimmers. These sites must achieve high standards of water quality and are regularly monitored during the bathing season which runs from 1 June to mid-September. The information is made public to ensure bathers can make informed choices as to when to swim. My Department also supplies this important information to Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful to be used in the assessment for the Awards that we are here to celebrate today.

Up until now, Northern Ireland has had twenty-six bathing waters. I am delighted to announce that I intend to add a further seven sites to the programme before this year’s bathing season. I hope that this demonstrates my commitment to improving water quality for the benefit of all and to working in partnership with KNIB and the wider Better Beaches Forum.”

Mayors from across councils, and beach and marina operators were invited to collect the awards.

Award-winning beaches will now have their respective flags in place for this year’s bathing season. In the event that water quality is not safe for members of the public to swim in the water, Blue Flags and Seaside Awards Flags are lowered until the water is safe to swim in.

Blue Flag Marinas, which are not designated bathing waters, fly their flags all year round.

Notes to editors

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is a charity working towards the vision of a world where people and nature thrive, by running environmental-education programmes and awareness-raising campaigns, increasing volunteering opportunities and reporting on local environmental quality. Programmes include the national civic-pride campaign Live Here Love Here, Carbon Literacy training, and local environmental quality programmes, such as Eco-Schools NI, Blue Flag Award, Seaside Award, Green Flag Award, Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Marine Litter surveys. For more information, visit www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org .

DAERA Marine and Fisheries Division monitors Northern Ireland’s bathing water quality during the bathing season, which runs from 1 June through 15 September. During this time, water quality is assessed on 20 different occasions at each location.

What are the Blue Flag Awards?

The Blue Flag is an international award scheme that recognizes and rewards beaches, marina and boats for high quality management. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, education, safety and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. In addition, beaches must achieve excellent water quality consistently through the previous four bathing seasons to be awarded.

What are the Seaside Awards?

The Seaside Award is a mark of quality management for beaches across the UK. It works towards sustainable development of beaches through strict criteria that includes water quality, environmental management, and safety. Where the Seaside Award flag is flown, you are guaranteed to find a clean, attractive and well managed coastal stretch.

What is the Better Beaches Forum?

DAERA chairs a Better Beaches Forum with bathing water operators (primarily local councils), Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful (KNIB), Northern Ireland Water (NIW), Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), community groups, and other land-owners like the National Trust.

The Forum typically meets bi-annually and focuses on three key areas

o improving water quality;

o improving beach cleanliness, facilities management and signage; and

o keeping the public and media better informed.

For further information about the Blue Flag Award and Seaside Award, please contact: claire.irwin@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org

Most recent data from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) shows that 271,501 tonnes of waste was collected by Northern Ireland’s councils during the three-month period from April to June 2024, up on the 267,107 tonnes collected during the same period in 2023.

To put the problem into perspective, this volume of waste weighs about the same as 22,500 double decker buses.

To tackle the challenge at hand, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has unveiled an education and awareness campaign - A Better Way. Funded by DAERA through the Carrier Bag Levy, the campaign encourages us to explore the ways we can by reduce, reuse or repair items to significantly decrease the amount of waste we create.

Minister Muir said , “The prevention of waste is the most favourable option and as such is at the top of the Waste Hierarchy. Waste prevention saves money through more efficient use of materials, reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change, and supports the principles of a circular economy. I am keen to see our resources moved as far up the waste hierarchy as possible and welcome the impact that this campaign will have on changing waste prevention behaviours across Northern Ireland."

86.8 per cent of the waste collected by Councils between April and June 2024 was generated by households, with 15.4 per cent of this having to be directed to landfill. Whilst this figure is lower than the 19.8 per cent of waste sent to landfill between April to June 2023, the data reveals that Northern Ireland has an ongoing challenge with the sheer volume of what ends up in our bins, and the strain that managing this waste puts on our environment.

Eric Randall, Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said, “Our A Better Way campaign highlights that we have the chance to make small and simple changes in our daily lives to reduce what goes in the bin, and what is directed to landfill. At present, the amount we are throwing away is indicative of a very wasteful culture. We need to challenge our perceptions of what waste is. Let’s explore the ways in which we can reduce, reuse and repair to turn the tide on waste in 2025.”

As part of the campaign, an official A Better Way mark has been developed, which retailers and wider organisations such as vintage clothing shops, alteration specialists, appliance repairs and others committed to doing better, can display. Repair Café Belfast have already signed up to don the mark, demonstrating that many see the value in A Better Way.

Aoife McCrory, Waste & Pollution Solutions Coordinator at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, highlighted some of the solutions that A Better Way initiates.

She said, “It is better for the environment and our pockets to cherish what we already have. Why not invest in reusable coffee cups and water bottles, designed for long-term use, to reduce the need to buy disposable items? Similarly, rather than throwing food jars away, use them as storage containers. Borrow or rent from friends and neighbours to reduce the need to buy new. Use refill stations to cut down on packaging, opt to go paperless when it comes to banking, repair tears on clothing. The better ways exist – but we need to show greater commitment.”

For more information and guidance visit keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org

ENDS

For interview requests contact Navigator Blue:

Grainne Glenny | g.glenny@navigatorblue.com

Notes to Editors

Data referenced is from Northern Ireland Local Authority Collected Municipal Waste Management Statistics: Quarterly provisional estimates for April to June 2024. The report was published in October 2024.

https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/daera/lac-municipal-waste-q1-2024-25-report.pdf

Live Here Love Here, a people-powered campaign dedicated to improving the local environment and fostering civic pride, has revealed the winners of its 2025 Community Awards. The event, held at Belfast City Hall on Thursday, February 6 and hosted by TV presenter Joe Mahon, brought together over 150 guests - including Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir, local leaders, environmental advocates and volunteers – to honour the outstanding contributions of voluntary community groups across Northern Ireland working to improve the environment and promote civic pride.

Sponsored by Power NI and supported by DAERA, nine local councils, and the Housing Executive, the awards serve as a vital platform for recognising the power of collective action in tackling community environmental challenges such as dog fouling, littering, biodiversity loss, transformation of neglected spaces and environmental education.

On the night, 12 awards were presented to celebrate the achievements of local community groups, including the Regional Champions Awards, which honoured volunteers from Live Here Love Here’s nine partner council areas. The Lasting Contribution Award, supported by DAERA, was presented to Copeland Bird Observatory for their enduring commitment to environmental sustainability and community improvement spanning more than six decades. Since 1954, the observatory has been dedicated to bird conservation, research, and community engagement, particularly on the Copeland Islands, making a lasting impact on local biodiversity and environmental education. Runner-up, Comber Regeneration Community Partnerships (CRCP), was also recognised for transforming its town through initiatives like creating a community garden and fostering pride and responsibility among residents.

The Bright Future Award, supported by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, was awarded to Antrim Community Fridge for their innovative approach to environmental stewardship. Founded in 2024, this up-and-coming group has engaged over 500 households, hosted events to tackle food insecurity, and worked to reduce food waste while promoting sustainability and strengthening community ties. While, the Community Together Award, supported by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, was presented to Holywood Shared Town from Ards and North Down Borough Council area for their work supporting smaller groups and leading initiatives that build a cohesive and inclusive community, including focusing on environmental improvements and social spaces for residents.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, said, “I’m proud to support Live Here Love Here, which connects volunteers, fosters learning, and empowers meaningful action towards a cleaner, greener, and healthier environment. The Community Awards are a special occasion to celebrate the diverse contributions of those dedicated to environmental stewardship. I am delighted to present the Lasting Contribution Award, which celebrated Copeland Bird Observatory’s unwavering dedication and long-standing efforts in fostering a sustainable community and creating a lasting positive impact.

“Now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we celebrate and support these local groups that are making a tangible difference at the grassroots level. By fostering a sense of shared responsibility and encouraging people of all ages to take action, we can ensure that the future of environmental stewardship remains full of opportunity. The work being done today by these dedicated groups will leave a lasting legacy, inspiring others to take part and make a difference in their own communities.”

Lynda Surgenor, Live Here Love Here Manager, said, “The Community Awards resonate because they celebrate the unsung heroes in our communities who are driving real environmental change through volunteer work. This year, the theme ‘Community Connections’ made it even more special as we honoured groups that demonstrate the power of collective action. Whether it’s transforming vacant land into thriving green spaces or mobilising locals to restore and protect local waterways, these groups are proving that no action is too small to make a difference. We’re reminded that, together, we can build a cleaner, greener, and more connected Northern Ireland."

She added, “We also want to thank DAERA, Power NI, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, and our nine council partners for their continued support, which ensures the ongoing success of Live Here Love Here.”

For more information on the Live Here Love Here campaign and the Community Awards, visit liveherelovehere.org.

The Fashion Forever Festival is returning to Belfast this Christmas to shine a light on the issue of textile waste in Northern Ireland and to provide solutions to help everyone explore reusing, repairing and reimagining their old clothes and fabrics this festive season.

The festival, now in its third year, will take place at 2 Royal Avenue on Saturday 21st December from 11am to 4pm. The jam-packed programme of events has been designed to introduce sustainable fashion concepts and designers in a fun and accessible way.

Fashion Forever, delivered by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) through the Carrier Bag Levy, is an awareness campaign that hopes to show the public the issues posed by mounting textile waste and the everyday behavioural changes that can help tackle the impact it has on our environment.

Alongside talks on the subjects of reusing, repairing and reimagining our textile waste, the event festivities will feature a plastic-free wrapping station, a visit from Sustainable Santa, a pop-up pre-loved styling boutique and swap shop, as well as a host of new-to-you clothing stalls, alongside exhibitions and mini workshops exploring the world of sustainable fashion.

Last year’s event saw hundreds of people visit the festival and the Fashion Forever team hopes that this year’s Christmas themed event will help their visitors tackle the waste challenges of the festive season.

Aoife McCrory, Waste and Pollution Solutions Coordinator for Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and festival organiser said, “This time of year, represents a massive spike in the consumption of textiles and can generate a large amount of single-use seasonal garments and gifts. The Fashion Forever Festival aims to highlight how we think about textiles and all the changes we can make to reduce our impact.

Our fashion choices are having a hugely negative impact on Northern Ireland’s environment. One million tonnes of textiles are discarded each year across the UK, a third of which ends up in landfill, contaminating our natural resources and posing a threat to the health of those who live and work nearby. It’s time we all start to think differently and make small changes to the choices we make. We hope that this festival provides an opportunity for the public to see there are alternative ideas and solutions, which are beneficial to both their wardrobe and the environment.”

Research from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful in 2023 shows that the public want to make better textile choices, with 17% of people surveyed buying second-hand clothing on a regular basis, and over 60% wanting to explore buying more pre-loved clothing rather than brand new. The charity hopes that the Fashion Forever Festival is the perfect opportunity to find new ideas and be inspired by those who are championing shopping sustainably.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “Innovative and exciting initiatives such as Fashion Forever offer multiple benefits to people and the environment. The more we can do to encourage people to keep their clothes in use for longer or to reuse them, the better for all of us. Limiting fashion waste by buying pre-loved clothes helps us move towards a circular economy which helps protect the planet and the household purse.

“Thanks to the Carrier Bag Levy, DAERA can support this year’s festival. It will offer people the skills and knowledge to help them reimagine and reuse their existing clothes, prolonging the lifespan of their clothes, keeping them out of landfill and helping protect our precious environment.”

The Fashion Forever Festival is a drop-in event, no booking is required.

-ENDS-

For more information contact:

Aoife McCrory

Waste and Pollution Solutions Coordinator

aoife.mcrory@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org

www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org.

or

Maria McLaughlin

Communications Officer

maria.mclaughlin@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org

Photo Caption: Aoife McCrory, Waste and Pollution Solutions Coordinator for Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, launches the third Fashion Forever Festival at 2 Royal Ave Belfast.

Northern Ireland took its first steps towards “greening” our education system with the launch of Generation Nature at Stranmillis University College. Supported by Energia Group’s Greener Possibilities Fund, the Department for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs, Stranmillis University College and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, this pilot project will help student teachers develop practical environmental skills to manage school grounds that support biodiversity and help fight the climate emergency. More importantly, the participants in this project will be able to pass on the skills and knowledge they develop through Generation Nature to pupils, meaning that Northern Ireland can lead the way in creating the environmental educators of the future.

The pilot project creates an innovative learning space for student teachers. Generation Nature will provide a pathway to integrate outdoor learning theory with practice relevant to the classroom and has started with nature awareness training delivered to all 170 student teachers in the early stages of their course at Stranmillis University College. This approach moves with the growing trend in education towards greener skills for teachers. It also builds on the success of our established environmental education programmes, such as the OCN in Reducing Carbon Footprints through Environmental Action Level 2, picked up by a number of schools across Northern Ireland. Generation Nature also has enormous promise for improving the well-being of our teachers. Engaging with our outdoors and increased physical activity are all well-recognised approaches towards reducing stress and improving physical and mental health. This project brings skills and well-being together in a joint effort that can have social and environmental benefits for all of Northern Ireland.

Generation Nature also taps into the demands from young people for more action on the climate emergency. The success of our Eco-Schools programme, which has for 30 years now had record numbers of Green Flags awarded to schools in Northern Ireland, demonstrates the appetite of our pupils for more environmental education. This pilot project is just the start of what could be a real revolution in how our young people build a long-lasting and positive relationship with their local and natural environment. Our young people working with their teachers to create more sustainable, resilient and environmentally active communities is what we know Generation Nature can help us achieve.

Speaking about the launch of Generation Nature, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful's Biodiversity Recovery Coordinator, Emily Taylor, said;

“I am delighted that this pilot project is underway, and we have taken the first step in this crucial journey. What we have started here today will plant the seeds for the next generation of nature lovers and environmentalists to thrive. I want to thank all those student teachers participating in this pilot programme and look forward to seeing how they use the important skills they develop through this project for years to come. This is just one of the steps Northern Ireland needs to take in greening our education system.”

Stranmillis University College Principal and CEO, Professor Jonathan Heggarty said

“This excellent initiative provides an innovative approach to creating sustainable, environmentally active communities across Northern Ireland, with the goal of teachers and pupils working together to drive change. Stranmillis University College is proud to work with partners, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Energia Group and the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to promote this endeavour which will bring both physical and mental wellbeing benefits to teachers and pupils as well as tangible environmental benefits.”

Gwyneth Compson, CSR Manager at Energia said

“We are proud to be able to provide support and bolster the valuable work being done by Generation Nature. We hope that this will enable them to increase their capacity to implement positive and lasting change. The aims of the Greener Possibilities Fund are closely aligned with UN Social Development Goal 11 on Sustainable Communities and 13 on Climate Action, as well the Energia Group’s on-going commitment to sustainability and the community.”

Note to Editors

Generation Nature is supported through the Green Possibilities Fund provided by the Energia Group, the Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs and Stranmillis University College.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is a charity working towards the vision of a world where people and nature thrive by running environmental education programmes and awareness-raising campaigns, increasing volunteering opportunities and reporting on local environmental quality. Programmes include the national civic-pride campaign Live Here Love Here, Tackling Plastic NI, Tackling Textiles, Carbon Awareness training, and local environmental quality programmes, such as Eco-Schools NI, Blue Flag Award, Seaside Award, Green Flag Award, Cleaner Neighbourhoods and Marine Litter surveys. For more information, visit www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org.

Photo Caption: L-R Gwyneth Compston, CSR Manger, Energia; David McKee, Head of Physical Education and Sport, Stranmillis University College; Emily Taylor, Biodiversity Coordinator, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

For more information contact, Colette McKelvey Communications Manager, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful at colette.mckelvey@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org

The physical and mental health benefits of our green spaces were celebrated at the annual Green Flag Awards in Lisburn. The green heroes from 11 council areas across Northern Ireland, Queens University, Belfast, and the Department of Finance were recognised today for the pivotal work they do in maintaining the spaces for the public to run, walk, and spend family time in.

This year, the focus of the awards is celebrating the physical and mental health benefits that we get from using our local parks and green spaces. The awards are taking place during Love Parks Week, which runs from 26th July to 4th August 2024, which highlights the role green spaces play in boosting the health and wellbeing of residents and communities.

Our guest speaker, Dr. William Bird MBE, knows first-hand the benefits of a strong park network. Dr Bird has pioneered the concept of social prescribing by setting up the first Health Walk scheme, closely followed by the first Green Gym. He quickly found that companionship and contact with nature were major driving forces in keeping people active. The Green Flag programme sets international standards for our parks to strive toward and the record number of awards this year speaks directly to the high standards that the public can enjoy locally and their importance in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

112 awards were presented this year to parks and open spaces including 71 Green Flags, 34 community Green Flags and 7 Heritage Awards.

The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised certification for environmental quality management for parks and open spaces and is increasingly sought after in Northern Ireland since the local programme opened in 2008.

Carol Forster Head of Business Development of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful which manages the local Green Flag Awards programme, said;

“Prioritising parks and open spaces is vital for our future and so we are delighted to see a milestone 105 sites in Northern Ireland meeting the required standards, representing over 4% of the sites globally achieving the prestigious international Green Flag award. These spaces provide vital opportunities to improve the physical and mental health of communities, provide havens for biodiversity, offer spaces where people can connect with nature and are a critical component of our green infrastructure. On behalf of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, I offer my congratulations to all of the park staff and community volunteers who devote much time and care to maintain these spaces for us all to enjoy. I want to encourage everyone this summer to take the opportunity to visit some of our beautiful green flag sites and enjoy these gems on our doorstep here in Northern Ireland”

The Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir MLA, said;

I am proud to support the Green Flags for Parks Awards programme and it is encouraging to see the increase in the number of parks providing quality green spaces that can be accessed by citizens and visitors alike. Our local parks provide a direct and vital link to our natural environment giving us all the opportunity to spend time outside in the fresh air and re-connect with nature. Our parks not only provide us with healthy spaces to live and relax, they also provide green corridors between wildlife-rich habitats, contributing to the wider nature recovery network that supports all our efforts to make Northern Ireland 'nature positive’.

Congratulations to the award winners today and I thank you for your tireless work that allows us all to fully enjoy the fantastic physical and mental health benefits offered by our parks and green spaces.

Notes to Editors

To view the full list of Green Flag Award winners for Northern Ireland, visit www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org/greenflagaward.

The 30 under 30 programme is celebrating our second cohort, finishing this year with some impressive projects. Thirty young people across Northern Ireland have come together since February 2024 to develop their ideas to help fight the climate emergency. 30 Under 30 is helping make these ideas a reality by connecting ambitious and energetic young people with one another. Each idea is another critical piece of the jigsaw in helping Northern Ireland fight against the climate emergency. Projects ranged from sustainable tourism to raising awareness of light pollution. This year's cohort will now develop these projects, bringing important benefits to their communities and our society.

This year's cohort, with the invaluable support of our partners Podiem, have completed six workshops. These workshops, focusing on purpose-driven leadership, teamwork, and impact, have been instrumental in shaping the ideas of our young leaders. The support from our partners and sponsors is a crucial part of the puzzle in our fight against the climate emergency, and we are deeply grateful for their contribution.

The 30 Under 30 Northern Ireland Climate Change-Makers programme is a beacon of hope, designed to unearth, inspire, and equip 30 leaders under the age of 30 who can play a pivotal role in shaping a better climate future for Northern Ireland and beyond. 30 under 30 draws on the international EE 30 Under 30 initiative introduced by the North American Association for Environmental Education.

The programme, delivered by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Podiem, and funded by Coca-Cola, Ulster Garden Villages, Danske Bank, Belfast City Council and Pinsent Masons is a testament to the power of collective action and the potential of our youth to make a difference.

Speaking about the success of the 2024 cohort, the Environmental Leadership & Awards Programme Manager, Jenna Potter said,

“Following the success of our pilot last year, we had high expectations for the class of 2024, and they did not disappoint. Having attended all six workshops, seeing the growth of the ideas, the depth of the connections all of them have made, and the enthusiasm has been incredible. I want to congratulate everyone who has participated this year, and I am excited to see their next steps.”

“The quality of the young people we are sourcing and the ideas generated demonstrates the importance of the 30 under 30 programme to Northern Ireland’s fight against the climate emergency. I want to thank our partners Podiem and the support from Coca-Cola, Ulster Garden Villages Danske Bank, Belfast City Council and Pinsent Masons for helping make this happen.”

The Eco-Schools programme, a renowned global initiative led by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that aims to create environmental awareness and action, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in Northern Ireland. The milestone was marked with a celebration event at Stranmillis University College this week with over 500 people attending including teachers and pupils. Established in 1994 to involve young people in finding solutions to environmental and sustainable development challenges, the programme is operated locally by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), local authorities and a range of other partners.

Northern Ireland’s record of success in the programme over the last three decades is significant. The Green Flag, an international accreditation for the environmental education and performance of schools, has been awarded to 2253 schools across the region to date. Northern Ireland was also the first in the world to award a Green Flag to one of its schools - Downpatrick Nursery in 1994. The 1000th Green Flag was awarded to Walker Memorial Primary School in Dungannon in 2017.

Over the course of the two-day event, supported by RiverRidge and Translink, a variety of awards were presented to schools, recognising their outstanding achievements in environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.

The Green Flag Awards accredited and reaccredited schools with Green Flag Status, whilst the Wheelie Big Challenge Awards funded by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council, Belfast City Council, Mid and East Antrim Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh Council and Natural World Products was given to schools with strong waste management initiatives.

The Eco-School of the year Award was sponsored by Nexus, whilst the Eco-Teacher of the Year and the Eco-Pupil of the Year was sponsored by Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). Pupils who participated in the international Young Reporters from the Environment (YRE) programme were also acknowledged.

Carol Forster, Head of Business Development at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said, “Our journey over the past 30 years has been remarkable. I commend our schools across Northern Ireland for their steadfast commitment in inspiring young people to care for the world around them. We’ve seen countless young people grow into environmentally conscious citizens, equipped with the knowledge and passion to make a difference.

“The Eco-Schools programme aligns with our wider organisational vision. We believe that through education, engagement and empowerment, we can change behaviours so that everyone can enjoy a beautiful, resilient, and healthy environment.

“This event not only serves as a platform to celebrate our continued achievements, but also as an urgent reminder on how important it is to continue to inspire and invest in our youth to ensure that future generations actively participate in environmental stewardship. We’re grateful to all our partners for their continued support and strongly encourage more schools to join the programme to give every child in Northern Ireland the opportunity to get involved.”

Rob Belt, Eco-Coordinator at Bessbrook Primary School who has been delivering his school’s programme, said, “Eco-Schools has changed how our young people see and engage with their environment. It integrates environmental awareness and action into all fabrics of day-to-day school life. Retaining our Green Flag status is tremendously important to our school as it is the benchmark that tells us we’re doing good by our students and by the environment.”

A key highlight of the anniversary event was the launch of Generation Nature – a new outdoor learning demonstration site at Stranmillis University College which will provide trainee teachers with the hands-on experience and practical skills essential for continuing the success of the Eco-Schools programme. The project has been developed in partnership with the college and is supported by Energia’s Greener Possibilities Fund.

Dr David McKee at Stranmillis University College said, “It's essential we continue to integrate environmental education into teacher training in Northern Ireland, to ensure that new teachers are equipped with the tools and the knowledge needed to strengthen our collective performance in Eco-Schools. Generation Nature will play an essential role in this endeavour – it’s a wonderful addition to the teacher training experience.”

Leo McKillion of RiverRidge, Northern Ireland’s leading waste and resource management company said, “We were delighted to be involved in this event. It is vital that we continue to both educate and listen to the next generation as we all strive to live in a more sustainable world. RiverRidge believes that schools play a key role in changing the environment by reducing waste and treating it as a valuable resource. Let’s keep working together to spread the word and change behaviour.”

For more information, please visit www.eco-schoolsni.org

The Eco-Schools programme, a renowned global initiative led by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that aims to create environmental awareness and action, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in Northern Ireland. The milestone was marked with a celebration event at Stranmillis University College this week with over 500 people attending including teachers and pupils. Established in 1994 to involve young people in finding solutions to environmental and sustainable development challenges, the programme is operated locally by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), local authorities and a range of other partners.

Northern Ireland’s record of success in the programme over the last three decades is significant. The Green Flag, an international accreditation for the environmental education and performance of schools, has been awarded to 2253 schools across the region to date. Northern Ireland was also the first in the world to award a Green Flag to one of its schools - Downpatrick Nursery in 1994. The 1000th Green Flag was awarded to Walker Memorial Primary School in Dungannon in 2017.

Over the course of the two-day event, supported by RiverRidge and Translink, a variety of awards were presented to schools, recognising their outstanding achievements in environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.

The Green Flag Awards accredited and reaccredited schools with Green Flag Status, whilst the Wheelie Big Challenge Awards funded by Antrim and Newtownabbey Council, Belfast City Council, Mid and East Antrim Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh Council and Natural World Products was given to schools with strong waste management initiatives.

The Eco-School of the year Award was sponsored by Nexus, whilst the Eco-Teacher of the Year and the Eco-Pupil of the Year was sponsored by Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). Pupils who participated in the international Young Reporters from the Environment (YRE) programme were also acknowledged.

Carol Forster, Head of Business Development at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said, “Our journey over the past 30 years has been remarkable. I commend our schools across Northern Ireland for their steadfast commitment in inspiring young people to care for the world around them. We’ve seen countless young people grow into environmentally conscious citizens, equipped with the knowledge and passion to make a difference.

“The Eco-Schools programme aligns with our wider organisational vision. We believe that through education, engagement and empowerment, we can change behaviours so that everyone can enjoy a beautiful, resilient, and healthy environment.

“This event not only serves as a platform to celebrate our continued achievements, but also as an urgent reminder on how important it is to continue to inspire and invest in our youth to ensure that future generations actively participate in environmental stewardship. We’re grateful to all our partners for their continued support and strongly encourage more schools to join the programme to give every child in Northern Ireland the opportunity to get involved.”

Rob Belt, Eco-Coordinator at Bessbrook Primary School who has been delivering his school’s programme, said, “Eco-Schools has changed how our young people see and engage with their environment. It integrates environmental awareness and action into all fabrics of day-to-day school life. Retaining our Green Flag status is tremendously important to our school as it is the benchmark that tells us we’re doing good by our students and by the environment.”

A key highlight of the anniversary event was the launch of Generation Nature – a new outdoor learning demonstration site at Stranmillis University College which will provide trainee teachers with the hands-on experience and practical skills essential for continuing the success of the Eco-Schools programme. The project has been developed in partnership with the college and is supported by Energia’s Greener Possibilities Fund.

Dr David McKee at Stranmillis University College said, “It's essential we continue to integrate environmental education into teacher training in Northern Ireland, to ensure that new teachers are equipped with the tools and the knowledge needed to strengthen our collective performance in Eco-Schools. Generation Nature will play an essential role in this endeavour – it’s a wonderful addition to the teacher training experience.”

Leo McKillion of RiverRidge, Northern Ireland’s leading waste and resource management company said, “We were delighted to be involved in this event. It is vital that we continue to both educate and listen to the next generation as we all strive to live in a more sustainable world. RiverRidge believes that schools play a key role in changing the environment by reducing waste and treating it as a valuable resource. Let’s keep working together to spread the word and change behaviour.”

For more information, please visit www.eco-schoolsni.org