Kentmere Academy awarded first Eco-Schools Green Flag

The children grow fruit trees in the grounds of Kentmere Academy and Nursery

Kentmere Academy and Nursery has been awarded its first Eco-Schools Green Flag, an internationally recognised award for excellence in environmental action and learning.

The assessor who visited the school was very impressed with the children's passion and knowledge about a range of eco initiatives and said that they all deserved high praise.

In order to achieve a Green Flag award, schools must focus on three key areas; the eco team at Kentmere chose litter, water and school grounds.

In 2017, the school grounds improvement began with the planting of fruit trees. These have now grown and each year the team collect the fruit which is then given to the school kitchen to be used in the children's lunches.

Water butts in various areas around school ensure that all rainwater is collected and reused.

Posters encouraging children to make sure taps are turned off were also created by the children and water promises written by the whole community, to ensure that even at home everyone is doing their best to save water.

Furthermore, each member of the team has willingly spent their lunchtime completing litter picks in the playground to make it perfectly clean.

Eco co-ordinator, Vicky Howcroft-Swift said: “I am very proud of the hard work the children have put into all things eco.

“They really are passionate about it, coming up with numerous ideas such as recycling old pens and batteries, litter picking and trying to improve our school grounds by planting various trees and shrubs.

“We will continue to work hard and maintain our eco status.”