A school in Ceredigion has been recognised by the Deputy First
Minister for the action it's taking to tackle the nature and
climate emergencies.
Thanks to Welsh Government funding and support from Keep Wales
Tidy, Ysgol Penrhyn-coch near Aberystwyth has created a wildlife
pond to increase biodiversity and support a wide variety of
freshwater species, including frogs, newts and dragonflies – as
well as providing a drinking source for garden birds and mammals
such as hedgehogs during increasingly hot summers – alongside
native trees, plants and shrubs to ensure nature has a place to
thrive.
The school is a platinum Eco-School, the highest status possible.
This title is only achieved by those awarded the Green Flag four
times – demonstrating their long-term commitment to environmental
education, student involvement and sustainability.
Eco-Schools is one of the largest global sustainable school
programmes – engaging millions of children across 79 countries,
by starting in the classroom and expanding to the community,
allowing the next generation to learn by taking action.
In Wales 90% of schools across every local authority take part in
Eco-Schools. Ceredigion is no exception to this impressive level
of participation, boasting 21 schools with platinum awards,
empowering and inspiring young people to make positive
environmental changes to their schools and wider community.
Platinum schools are ranked amongst the best in the world, and on
a visit to Ysgol Penrhyn-coch to see the new pond and trees, the
Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and
Rural Affairs, said the top-tier status was an “example” to
others:
“This award-winning primary school is helping to make a
difference to how we think and react to climate change. It is an
example to schools across Wales by perfectly showing how small
steps can add up to help Wales tackle the climate and nature
emergencies.
“I'm very proud that the Eco-Schools programme is developing
children's awareness of sustainability, highlighting pupils to
Wales' place in the world.
“It was such a pleasure to visit and talk to some of the
students, as well as the staff, about the incredibly positive
action they've been taking to help our environment.”
Speaking to the Deputy First Minister, the children added:
“'We're hoping that frogs are going to come and lay their
frogspawn, and then we're going to get loads of tadpoles!”
Notes to editors
The Eco-Schools education programme covers a wide expanse of
issues, such as water, waste reduction, food, wellbeing, litter,
transport, global citizenship, circular economy, sustainable
fashion, energy and biodiversity while building on their skills,
including numeracy and literacy, and encompassing Education for
Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship.
Currently, 39 of 42 schools in Ceredigion have an Eco-Schools
award, comprising of: 21 schools with Platinum awards; 11 with
Green Flags (8 of which are one Green Flag from Platinum); 6 with
a Silver award; and 1 with a bronze award. A further 2 schools
are registered and only 1 school unregistered. All Platinum
schools have been running Eco-Schools for at least 10 years.
