This year’s Nature Hero Awards, proudly sponsored by Glenveagh, has seen almost 80,000 young people from pre, primary and secondary schools across 26 counties in Ireland take part. Finishing in top spot for 2024 is Carlow Educate Together National School who receive a school garden makeover worth €10,000.
The Nature Hero Award is Ireland’s largest outdoor learning award across the education sector. It is a mark of excellence for a school that recognises exceptional work by young people and teachers to help nature. 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 from nature conservation to school gardening, ecoliteracy to responsible citizenship as well as physical and mental wellbeing. The Nature Hero Award is an award of participation, not just competition, so please take a look below at all 43 of our amazing schools who achieved Nature Hero status this year and received their wooden Nature Hero Award plaque. Speaking about the importance of the award at the presentation ceremony, Malcom Noonan, Minister Of State For Nature, Heritage & Electoral Reform commented: "It is vital that educators inspire and empower children and young people to better understand the natural world and in doing so foster a new generation of activists and advocates for nature. The Biodiversity in Schools Nature Hero Award does just that and I commend Carlow Educate Together for their amazing whole school approach to learning about biodiversity. This award is richly deserved" Speaking on the 2024 programme, Mark Nolan, Director of Biodiversity in Schools commented: "Yet again we were amazed with the quality of applications. We were particularly delighted to welcome both preschools and secondary schools on board for the first time. A massive congratulations to Carlow Educate Together National School and to all winning schools for leading the way on a national level in outdoor learning and helping nature. We are starting to see a map emerge of Ireland's most nature-friendly schools and I hope it's something we continue to see growing year on year”. Speaking about the award, Annette McGarry, Head of Community Engagement at Glenveagh commented: “It has been truly incredible to see so the number of schools and children take part in this year’s Nature Hero Awards flourish. Glenveagh is delighted to support such a brilliant hands-on initiative, a key part of Glenveagh’s Building Lasting Communities education programme. Speaking at the announcement, Clare Keohane, a teacher at Carlow Educate Together National School commented: “We are beyond thrilled to win the Biodiversity in Schools Nature Hero Award. It’s fantastic to see all our work recognised at a national level. It also highlights the importance of the work we are doing to the whole community. The children were very excited to win and have been busy making plans for the prize! Our school garden and the development of outdoor learning has had an extremely positive impact on our school culture. The children love growing, maintaining, harvesting and cooking food in our garden. When we ask students their favourite part of the school year the garden is always top of the list. We find working outdoors beneficial in many ways, it helps anxious children settle into their day and improves well-being and overall engagement in lessons. Bringing lessons outdoors sparks the children’s creativity and curiosity, it creates an active and engaging setting. I find my students more involved and motivated to learn when we go outside.” For more information on the Nature Hero Awards and how to register for next year please see here. Ireland's most nature-friendly schools Below is the county leaderboard of Ireland's most nature-friendly schools as well as an interactive map of all 43 pre, primary and secondary schools.
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