School pupils gathered in their hundreds in Heaton Park (27 June) to celebrate their hard work and dedication in making their school communities eco-friendly.
Over 200 pupils from across 14 schools in Manchester took part in the celebrations with their teachers and community leaders to officially recognise their schools as being one of many that has led the way in making their communities cleaner and greener for everyone. Colleges and nurseries have also taken part with 19, 607 participants across the city taking the initiative to protect the environment by being involved in the Eco-Schools programme and gaining their prestigious Green Flag accreditation.
The momentous day was packed with engaging workshops and hands-on activities such as Biodiversity workshops with the RHS Nature Park Team, Sow the City and Lancashire Wildlife Trust, exploring the rich ecosystems in Heaton Park. Read Manchester and Literacy Champions led an inspiring poetry session and Plastic Shed shared innovative ways to reduce waste.
It was followed by guided historical walks hosted by Bike It, Walk It (In Our Nature) and planting stations and sports-themed eco games in collaboration with Keep Manchester Tidy, promoting active and sustainable lifestyles. Pupils also shared their feedback about the programme as part of supporting Manchester becoming a Child Friendly City before sharing a “Big Picnic Lunch” with other pupils and staff.
Eco-journalist and documentary-maker, Sarah Roberts, delivered a captivating keynote, sharing her journey and encouraging young people to become environmental storytellers and changemakers not just in the UK, but like her own efforts in Iceland and Namibia.
Known as Eco-Schools, the event gets its name from a steadfast programme since 1994, empowering young people to take several actionable steps in improving the environment for their schools and local communities as part of Keep Britain Tidy.
Out of the seven-step framework, it calls for schools to focus on topics; from healthy living, biodiversity, waste, energy, global citizenship and litter. Following a period of evaluation and monitoring, schools can then apply for Eco-School accreditation, or Green Flag status, to formally recognise their hard-earned achievements. Manchester currently has 30 provisions who have proudly accomplished Green Flag status – with 10 at Distinction level.
The programme has seen 2,984 pupils have gardening lessons, organise 150 litter picks and have collected 211 litter bags, and one school even initiated a total ban on single use plastic in 2023/24. Keep Manchester Tidy are ensuring that these incredible outcomes continue by helping to fund the various schools that choose to participate in the Eco-Schools programme.
Eco-Schools are just one part of environmental action that the Clean and Green MCR campaign has encouraged across the city. Through multi-million-pound investments, the campaign has already rolled out replacement litter bins, improved green spaces and implemented new road safety measures near schools.
As Manchester continues to make its mark as a an officially recognised Child Friendly City by UNICEF, the Eco-Schools programme is a significant milestone in the city’s journey toward sustainability and youth-led environmental action.
The celebration brought together schools from across Manchester, including Prospect House Specialist Support Primary, Bowker Vale Primary, Old Moat Primary to Included Learning, Claremont Primary, Divine Mercy, and Withington Girls School. Each school has worked tirelessly to achieve Eco-Schools status, embedding sustainability into their curriculum, school culture, and community outreach.
Find out more about Eco-Schools and how they are championing cleaner, greener communities and how to take part in the programme to achieve Green Flag status.
Councillor Lee-Ann Igbon, Executive Member for Vibrant Neighbourhoods, said: “This celebration of Eco-Schools is a testament to the power of young people to lead the way in environmental change. Their creativity, commitment, and collaboration are shaping a greener, more sustainable Manchester. We must continue to support and encourage them as we champion our city as a Child Friendly City for every child and as the new generation eco-friendly champions.”
Fabiola Cotton, Head of Design Technology and Eco Society Lead at Withington Girls’ School, said: “We are very proud to have such a dedicated group of pupils actively involved in our Eco Society. The group champions sustainability and environmental awareness across the school, helping to organise whole school events with a strong eco focus. Just this month, for example, all pupils took part in a giving activity that include making jewellery from recycled plastic and running a ‘swap shop’ to share clothes, toys and books.
“A real strength of our school is recognising our role as global citizens – understanding our impact and proactively contributing to both local and international communities. Our 20 years of partnership with social development projects in The Gambia, alongside regular pupil-led fundraising for a range of charities, exemplifies this commitment. Our school community, consistently demonstrate compassion, respect and a strong sense of personal responsibility, reflecting the very ethos of Withington.”
Shay Smith, 10, from Prospect House Primary School, said: “It was good taking part in the Eco-Schools programme. It was fun, because we fed pigs and we learned to plant and grow vegetables. We also got the chance to visit London and won an award as part of the Jamie Oliver Good Food Awards for sustainability.
“We also did recycling at school and we all supported each other by helping the school every day. My family is proud of all the hard work I’ve done.”