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Schools in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Area Celebrate Eco-Schools Green Flag Awards

June 26, 2023

James Hanna, Myla Vernon and Matilida McCrea collect their Eco-School of the Year Award with Mary-Alice Phoenix, Alison Toland, Keep NI Beautiful’s Aoife Fitzmaurice and Council CEO David Burns

Teachers and pupils from across the council area have been recognised for their standout environmental work at this year’s Eco-Schools Green Flag Awards. 15 local schools received Green Flags with special recognition for the Eco-Teacher and Eco-Pupil of the Year. The awards have been supported by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Nexus.

The 2023 winners are:

  • Green Flag: Ballinderry Primary School, Ballymacrickett Primary School, Barbour Nursery School, Carryduff Pre-School Playgroup, Carryduff Primary School, Harmony Hill Primary School, Killowen Primary School, Lagan College, Lisburn Central Primary School, McKinney Primary School Dundrod, Millennium Integrated Primary School, Seymour Hill Primary School, St Colman's Primary School, St Joseph's Primary School, Wallace High School Preparatory Department
  • Eco-Teacher of the Year (Sponsored by the Housing Executive): Lois Trimble – McKinney Primary School Dundrod
  • Eco-Pupil of the Year: Benjamin Henderson – Lisburn Central Primary School
  • Eco-School of the Year (Sponsored by the Housing Executive): St Colman’s Primary School

Councillor Caleb McCready, Environment & Sustainability Chairman speaking about these awards said: “The council is delighted with the interest shown by our younger residents to help improve the environment and their local communities.  Through school based activities they educate others on the importance of recycling, saving energy, not dropping litter and biodiversity. 

“I commend our local schools for achieving Green Flag status and thank our Eco-school, pupil and teacher of the year for their high level of commitment to protecting the environment within the Lisburn & Castlereagh area.  We are proud to be part pf the Eco-Schools NI scheme.”

Sinead Murray, Environmental Education Coordinator at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said:

“This year we have been really impressed by the quality of applications from schools across the council area. Pupils and teachers have really stepped up and get the importance of taking concrete action against the climate emergency. The creativity and determination displayed by pupils can give all of us confidence in the future. We are delighted to see the ethos of the Eco-Schools programme so warmly embraced by so many schools.”

Housing Executive Chair Nicole Lappin said: “Congratulations to all of this year’s winners: more new Green Flags, with special recognition for the council’s best Eco-School and Eco-Teacher of the Year.

“We would like to reiterate the importance of educating our young people in energy and environmental awareness and taking direct action for the protection of our environment. We believe it is vitally important for them to be fully aware of how precious our world is and that we need to do all we can to protect it.

“We are delighted to support these excellent Eco-Schools NI projects. We’ve been really impressed with the standard of work being produced by teachers, pupils, and the wider community. Their enthusiasm is truly inspirational and we are proud to support them in ensuring a better future for everyone."

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