Nature Hero Awards 2023 Winners Announced

This year’s Nature Hero Award, proudly sponsored by Glenveagh, has seen over 45,000 children
from over 200 primary schools across 26 counties in Ireland competing to receive a school garden makeover worth €10,000. Coming top of class and winning the gold award was Powerstown Educate Together National School in Tyrrelstown, Dublin.

The Nature Hero Award is Ireland’s first, standalone outdoor learning award. It is a mark of excellence for a school that recognises exceptional work by students and staff to help nature.
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​The aim of the achievement is to create an educational space that nurtures a love of nature, develops a knowledge of our biodiversity and encourages action to help it locally. It covers many topics such as school gardening, biodiversity conservation, ecological literacy, responsible citizenship as well as physical and mental wellbeing.

Of course the Nature Hero Award is an award of participation, not just competition, so please take a look below at all our amazing schools who achieved Nature Hero status this year.

Speaking about the partnership, Annette McGarry, Community Engagement Manager at Glenveagh
commented, “We’re delighted to see so many schools and children participate in the Nature Hero Awards 2023, which is a key part of our Building Lasting Communities educational programme. Biodiversity plays such an important role in every community and we’re incredibly proud to support such a brilliant initiative - congratulations to all the children at Powerstown ETNS!”.

Speaking on the 2023 programme, Mark Nolan, Director of Biodiversity in School commented:
“We've been amazed by the incredible work undertaken by schools across the country to help their local biodiversity. Congratulations to Powerstown ETNS who have shown superb leadership in outdoor learning and also a massive well done to all the schools who achieved Nature Hero status this year. A special thank you to Glenveagh Homes for their continued support of this great initiative.”

Powerstown ETNS Principal, Helena Trench, shared her excitement about being crowned the overall winner, “It’s incredible to see the pupils all work together over the past year and see how their hard work paid off. The children are beyond excited to have won a garden makeover for the school, and myself and the staff at Powerstown ETNS could not be more proud.”

Nature Hero Award - Class 2023
Gold - Powerstown Educate Together NS, Dublin (Overall National Winner)
Silver - St . Mel's NS, Ardagh, Co. Longford
Bronze - St. Patrick's Primary School, Co. Galway

Timoleague NS, Co. Cork
Castlelyons NS, Co. Cork
St. Brigid's NS, Midleton, Co. Cork
Skibbereen BNS, Co. Cork
Carlow Educate Together NS, Co. Carlow
Queen of the Universe NS, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow
St Eunan's NS, Raphoe, Co. Donegal
St. Brigid's NS, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
Inistioge NS, Co. Kilkenny
Croí an Choille Primary School, Croom, Co. Limerick
St. Isidores NS, Boherlahan Co. Tipperary
St. Mary's NS, Raharney, Co. Westmeath
St. Patrick's Loreto Primary School, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Special Awards
Best Overall National Project - Thomond Primary School, Limerick - Snakey River Forest
Best Community Award - St. Isidores NS, Co. Limerick & Timoleague NS, Co. Cork

For more information on the Nature Hero Awards please see here.