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A groundbreaking environmental education training facility has been launched at Stranmillis University College, Belfast.

The outdoor learning site features a mini orchard, polytunnel, fruit bushes, woodland area, group shelter, willow dome, wildflower area and raised planting beds. 

Students from a range of teaching qualifications will use the site to deepen their own knowledge about biodiversity habitats, environmental protection and food growing skills. 

The site is one element of Generation Nature, a project developed by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, in collaboration with Stanmillis University College. Generation Nature is funded by Energia’s Greener Possibilities fund, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

The project is designed to improve teaching confidence levels on crucial climate issues. Globally, a UNESCO survey found that 95% of primary and secondary teachers felt that teaching climate change is important, but less than 30% expressed a readiness to teach it.

The Generation Nature project also includes lectures on nature awareness delivered to students each year, followed up by the opportunity to turn this knowledge into practice by using the teaching site. This provides an opportunity for them to learn how nature awareness can be included in learning across a range of subjects in school.

Stranmillis has committed to including this nature awareness learning in core curriculum compulsory activities- a first for the College.

Commenting on the new initiative, Prof. Jonathan Heggarty, Stranmillis University College Principal, said:

“Outdoor learning is increasingly recognised as an important component of education—fostering creativity, hands-on engagement, environmental awareness and physical wellbeing, while also developing key life skills in young people. Stranmillis continues to provide educational leadership in this area, with our academic research, teaching, and scholarship in outdoor learning at both undergraduate and Masters levels helping shape educational practice and policy across Northern Ireland and beyond.

What sets the College apart is our commitment to turn research and theory into action. As Northern Ireland’s first designated eco-campus, we embed sustainability into many aspects of campus life. Initiatives such as our involvement in Forest Schools, the launch of the interactive Centenary Nature Trail, and the development of the Out and About outdoor learning resource reflect our dedication to nurturing environmentally conscious communities.

In partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, our newest initiative- Generation Nature, takes this commitment even further. This innovative programme supports student educators with tools and training to integrate sustainability into the curriculum. A special focus on growing food—through school gardens, planting projects, and eco-friendly gardening practices—gives pupils first-hand experience of where food comes from, the importance of biodiversity, and the environmental impact of food systems.

Generation Nature helps tomorrow’s teachers reconnect with the natural world, fostering a sense of responsibility and hope for a more sustainable future—one seed, one lesson at a time.”

Eric Randall, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said:

“We are delighted to see the Generation Nature site launched today. We know that our young people face greater environmental challenges than ever before. This project is about equipping teachers with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to prepare future generations to tackle these challenges head on.”

The site was opened with a planting workshop attended by Stranmillis student teachers and pupils from Stranmillis primary school.

Gwyneth Compston, CSR Manager as Power NI, part of the Energia Group said:

“It’s great to be able to support our Greener Possibilities Charity, Keep NI Beautiful with the launch of their Generation Nature project.

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 as Energia Group’s on-going commitment to sustainability and the community, so it has been great to be able to provide support and bolster the valuable work being done by Generation Nature.

This garden will help to educate our next generation of teachers and children in biodiversity and sustainability, helping to implement positive and lasting change.”

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

“I am very proud that my Department has supported the Generation Nature programme which will help our teachers confidently share their knowledge and improve nature awareness among our young people. Education is vital in tackling environmental challenges, and the skills developed at this site will ensure our teachers have the chance to learn, to connect with others and to take action to create a cleaner, greener and healthier environment for us all.”

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