Bryn Awel Primary School Celebrate Platinum Eco Flag Success

Pupils and staff from Bryn Awel Primary School are celebrating after being awarded a Platinum Eco Flag for their dedication to the environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The prestigious Platinum Eco Flag marks Bryn Awel Primary School’s 4th Eco Flag achievement thanks to the fantastic efforts of pupils and staff including the school’s Eco Committee, caretaker Paul Lewis and Eco Co-ordinator, Rhian Davies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Eco Committee are tasked with making the school as eco-friendly as possible, which includes inventing new ways of reducing the amount of waste the school sends to landfill, saving water, saving electricity and improving the environment. The Committee has gone from strength to strength each year, with over 30 children ranging from the ages of 6 to 11 now attending weekly meetings. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Eco Committee have also put their creativity to the test by using the bottom of a pop bottle to grow flowers and then utilising the remaining bottle parts to make bird feeders and wind catchers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A bottle greenhouse has also been made from recycled plastic bottles which were donated by parents. The green house is situated in the allotment area of the school and is regularly used to grow produce which the pupils harvest every year to make vegetable soup for the school to enjoy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A mini beast hotel made from pallets and plant pots has enabled pupils to observe a variety of creatures up close, while a log circle allows pupils to take part in ‘Forest School’ within a safe outdoor environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhian Davies, Eco Coordinator at Bryn Awel Primary School said: “The school’s Eco Committee work hard to ensure that the whole school are aware of how they can be as eco-friendly as possible. The pupils thoroughly enjoy being a part of the Eco Committee and certainly reap the benefits through tasting home grown produce and viewing mini beasts up close thanks to a mini beast hotel on the school grounds”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: “Well done to Bryn Awel Primary School for achieving the prestigious Platinum Eco Flag. This is testament to the dedication of the whole school to ensure that they do what they can to be as eco-friendly as possible”.
Cllr Derek Havard, Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning said: “Congratulations to the pupils, staff and of course the Eco Committee at Bryn Awel Primary School for achieving a Platinum Eco Flag”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​