Dundonald Primary School’s Eco-Committee, Cllr Convery, Principal Teacher Anne Dickson and Fiona Ross from South Ayrshire Council
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Pupils and staff at Dundonald Primary School are celebrating a double success after winning a prestigious Eco School Green Flag Award and for taking part in a successful Council initiative to promote the International Year of Biodiversity.
The school becomes the 17th in South Ayrshire to achieve Eco-School status.
The school's eco committee joined with their local councillor John Allan and Councillor Peter Convery, Portfolio Holder for Sustainability and the Environment, to celebrate at an event held in the school's eco garden.
Councillor Convery said: "Scotland is one of the world's leading countries in promoting the Eco-Schools programme and I am delighted that South Ayrshire Schools are increasingly being recognised for their innovative, forward thinking approaches to the environment.
"Dundonald Primary School has one of the most active and inspiring eco-councils who always seem to be leading from the front when it comes to making an impact on the environment and inspiring other young people in the school to come forward and make a difference."
Councillor Allan agreed, adding: "The Eco School Green Flag award is well deserved recognition for the excellent environmental work pupils, staff and parents have undertaken in recent months.
"I'm delighted for them and want to add my sincere congratulations to those of Councillor Convery on this prestigious achievement.
"I'm also very pleased to see the school marking the International Year of Biodiversity with a range of trees and flowers to be planted in the school grounds. I'm sure the eco-committee will know the best places to plant these in order for them to thrive.
The trees and wild flowers supplied by South Ayrshire Council, and were supplied to every primary and secondary school in South Ayrshire by the Sustainable Development Team, to further improve the school landscape and encourage more wildlife into the area.
Working towards green flag status is something that Scotland's new curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence, encourages because all children are given opportunities to make contributions towards sustainable developments and become responsible citizens.
Councillor Convery concluded: "The Council is committed to conserving and improving biodiversity in South Ayrshire. We recognise the importance of biodiversity for all our residents and this is one of many events we are undertaking to promote the International Year of Biodiversity 2010.
"I look forward to returning after the summer break to see how the pupils have planted the flowers and trees in their natural environment and to meet the school's new eco committee for 2010/11."