A CO Down principal has told of how he is "immensely proud" after his school was awarded a prestigious eco-schools green flag.
Kevin Burns said St Nicholas’ Primary School in Ardglass had been recognised for its environmental endeavours by the charity, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.
The eco-schools programme is the world’s largest environmental education programme and aims to make awareness and action an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of a school.
The programme aims to help improve the environments of schools and their local communities.
The internationally recognised green flag, which many schools across Northern Ireland have attained, is the highest award given to eco-schools and symbolises excellence in the field of environmental activity.
Mr Burns said pupils at his school had taken part in the Wrigley’s Litter Less Campaign and focused on responsible consumption and production of energy as well as holding a 'Whole School Energy Saving Day'.
He said that attaining the green flag status was a fantastic achievement for the entire school community and that the flag "now flies proudly" at the front of the school "for the whole community to see and for the pupils and staff of the community based school to be proud of".
Mr Burns added that pupils were now "looking forward to continuing to promote looking after our local environment with litter picks already arranged with Ulster Wildlife and Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation over the forthcoming weeks".
