Delamere Primary School awarded Green Flag status for their work on becoming eco-friendly

Dec 3 2009 by Ben Coulbeck, Chester Chronicle

Delamere Primary School awarded Green Flag status for their work on becoming eco-friendly

SAVING the planet is no easy task, but the pupils of Delamere Primary School are doing their bit.

Hard work, innovative and energy-saving ideas have paid off for the rural school after they became one of the first in the area to be awarded Green Flag status.

It is the highest eco-award available from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.

Less than 1,000 schools have received the top honour across the country and Delamere is one of the first in Cheshire West and Chester.

Acting headteacher Julie Clayton said: “We have worked very hard implementing various projects including a gardening club, creating habitats for insects, planting our own vegetables and working with the school’s eco-club.

“We are working to make all things green within the school and members of the school council and the eco-club are helping to teach the other children about the environment.

“Since achieving the bronze and then silver awards, a lot of work went into meeting the criteria for the green award. We are delighted.”

The Green Flag award is part of the international Eco-Schools award programme that was set up by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

There are currently more than 13,000 schools registered with the programme across England and the Government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families is hoping to make every school sustainable by 2020.

Bronze and silver awards can be applied for online, while Green Flag awards are achieved after a visit to the school by a trained assessor.