Bridgend County Borough Schools Continue To Fly Flag For Eco Excellence

Nearly half of the schools in Bridgend County Borough are now flying prestigious Platinum eco flags – the highest accolade awarded by Keep Wales Tidy to recognise a commitment to all things green. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An impressive 24 local schools have proudly achieved the Eco-Schools Platinum award, with West Park Primary in Porthcawl the latest school to cement their place among the eco elite after renewing their Platinum status. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of their Eco-Schools Platinum assessment, West Park Primary demonstrated that they are developing the school grounds, allotment and meadow area, helping to improve pupils’ health by supporting ‘Walk to School’ and ‘Big Pedal’ initiatives, and working even more closely with the local community and supporting eco charities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

They are also making improvements that will help them reduce their carbon footprint. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hollie Hobday and Chloe Parker, West Park’s Eco Co-ordinators said: “We are delighted to have received our renewal. As usual, our pupils continue to be enthusiastic and inventive when it comes to planning new ideas and raising our eco profile. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The renewal would not be possible without the support and efforts of our eco warrior committee as well as our parent and community links. Many thanks for helping us to keep our flag flying high! Here’s to a green future at West Park Primary!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Matthew Bunt, Education Officer for Keep Wales Tidy, said: “The Platinum Flag is a very impressive achievement and highlights the enthusiasm and commitment that West Park Primary has towards sustainable development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The dedication of the eco-committee over many years has been inspirational. The school’s application really evidenced how integral Eco-Schools is to life at West Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’d like to congratulate and thank all of the pupils and staff involved for their hard work!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Eco-Schools is an international programme run in Wales by environmental charity, Keep Wales Tidy and funded by the Welsh Government. Over 90 per cent of schools in Wales are registered on the programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​