A Powys primary school has shown its green credentials after recently gaining environmental award status.

Trefonnen School, in Llandrindod Wells, gained Eco-Schools Green Flag Status in the last week of the summer term. The award was the result dedicated work over many years by the Eco Committee, school pupils and staff.

Most recently, Trefonnen’s projects included litter picking in and around the school grounds, planning, creating and planting a new vegetable garden area, planting trees, growing wildflowers, encouraging and recording biodiversity and working with the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust. The school has also raised awareness in the local community through a peaceful protest about Climate Change.

Bryony Bromley, Eco Schools education manager, said “It was a real joy to speak to the members of the Eco-Committee and to hear about and see all of the positive projects that have been taking place within the school.

“I was thrilled to hear that the pupils feel that their voices are being heard and that the work of the Eco-Committee is affecting a really positive change both within the school and the local community.

“It is clear that the recent climate march was a real success and also engaged local residents and businesses.

“You have followed the Eco-Schools process steps incredibly effectively, including the effective measuring of impact, so everyone is able to see that what you are doing is making a positive difference. The pupils clearly felt empowered as well as knowledgeable, which was so lovely to see.

“I loved seeing your school grounds with all the work that has been done to grow amazing looking vegetables and to create more space for wildlife. It was also great to see the transformation of the Every Flower Counts area.”

Eco-Schools is a global programme engaging 19.5 million children across 70 countries, making it the largest educational programme on the planet.

The programme was developed by the Foundation for Environmental Education in 1994 and is run in Wales by Keep Wales Tidy. It is designed to empower and inspire young people to make positive environmental changes to their school and wider community, while building on their skills, including numeracy and literacy, and encompassing Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship.

Since 1994, millions of young people around the world have worked through the Eco-Schools Seven Steps before being recognised for their efforts with a prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flag.

Mrs Jess Hall, eco coordinator at Trefonnen School said: “This is a fabulous achievement for our school and for our pupils.

“It is more important than ever that we educate children about eco issues, but also to empower and enable young people to take action and to see that they can have a real impact.”