Pupils fly the flag for green efforts

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has awarded five schools and nurseries in Stirling 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.

The schools are: Allan’s Nursery, Callander Primary School, East Plean Primary School, St Mary’s RC Primary School and St Modan’s High School.

All the schools took part in a variety of litter-busting and climate action activities including litter picks, litter surveys, recycling and community clean ups.

Through the Ecoschools Scotland programme, Keep Scotland Beautiful 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. The programme 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 combatting climate change and achieve their Green Flag Award.

More information at www. keepscotlandbeautiful. org/eco-schools