St Ita’s Primary School create stencil to highlight dog fouling issue

June 30, 2022

St Ita’s Primary School has showcased its commitment to the local community by designing a new dog fouling stencil and claiming the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Eco School of the Year award.

The school claimed both 1st and 2nd prizes in the Dog Stencil competition which will see the winning design, made by Siobhán Curran, created into a stencil to be used in dog fouling hotspots to highlight the issue.

Siobhán and second place Sean Hughes also won Family Passes to Lisburn Leisureplex and Dundonald Ice Bowl.

Chair of the Council Environmental Services Committee, Councillor Martin Gregg said: “Our Dog Control Service team conducted a responsible dog ownership educational programme for primary 7 aged pupils across the area. To further promote this programme, the team ran a competition for students that attended to create a stencil that can go onto pavements in areas where dog fouling is identified as an issue.

“I was delighted to present our 1st and 2nd place winners with their prizes and find out more about their designs.

“Dog Fouling is a serious issue across Lisburn Castlereagh and the Council continues to work with our local communities to highlight the need to pick up after your dog so that our communities are clean and safe for all.”

The school was also recently presented with the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Eco School of the Year award by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful about which Councillor Gregg commented: “It was brilliant to be shown around the school by the Eco Committee and find out about the various initiatives that led to this deserved award.

“The school uses all green space available to them effectively, which they have big plans for to expand, and I was pleased to see the Wildflower Meadow and Rainbow Garden.

“The nursery as well as the primary school have made use of free compost provided by Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. This was made from material collected from brown bins within the Council area, and they planted various vegetables including potatoes, broccoli and peas.

“Cycling and walking to school is also encouraged to ease congestion and pollution outside the school gates.”

Caption Photo 1: 1st and 2nd place winners of the Dog Stencil Competition, Siobhán Curran (R) and Sean Hughes (L), are pictured with Councillor Martin Gregg, LCCC Enforcement Officer Ciara Brunty and Ms Flanagan of St Ita's Primary School

Caption Photo 2: The 1st place design by Siobhán Curran

Caption Photo 3: The 2nd place design by Sean Hughes

Caption Photo 4: Councillor Martin Gregg and the Eco Committee of St Ita's Primary School showcase their LCCC Eco School of the Year award.