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Positive Futures and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful today announce, “Caring for our World”, a partnership delivering free, accessible climate training to organisations supporting people with a learning disability. The training takes a two-step approach, first educating and certifying staff who, once trained, then use the flexible resources provided to educate and certify the people with a learning disability they support, empowering them to take meaningful climate action.

This is the first climate change programme for people with a learning disability to be developed in Northern Ireland. The resources are flexible and inclusive and can be easily adapted to deliver full workshops or one-to-one sessions for those with complex needs.

This project is funded through the carrier bag levy by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), supporting climate education and sustainability initiatives across Northern Ireland.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA said, “I want to congratulate everyone involved today from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Positive Futures who have worked together to develop these important training resources. I’m delighted that though the Carrier Bag Levy, my Department has been able to support the development of Caring for our World. We know that when climate information is made clear, engaging, relevant and accessible it empowers everyone to participate fully in both the conversation and with positive action. These resources will help to ensure that people with additional learning needs also have the tools to help bring about meaningful climate action in their communities.”

Eric Randall, Chief Executive, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful:

“We are delighted to partner with Positive Futures in delivering this truly groundbreaking approach to climate training. Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has always promoted climate action to as many groups as possible and, more importantly, removing the barriers that some parts of our community might face in accessing this vital information. Caring for our World will ensure that climate action resources are accessible to all in our society. There should be no barriers for those who want to take positive steps to combat the climate emergency”

Dr Agnes Lunny, Chief Executive, Positive Futures:

“As part of our Positive Green strategy for our organisation, we have been educating our staff on sustainability issues, particularly climate. We wanted this training to be inclusive of the people we support and the wider learning disabilities community. Caring for our World empowers staff and people with learning disabilities to take meaningful climate action with confidence. Importantly, it gives people context and rationale for their actions - many of which they may already be doing without realising just how impactful small, everyday behaviours can be in countering climate change.

Patrick McKinney is supported by Positive Futures and one of the first to complete the training:

“I like to help the planet; I recycle and save energy. I know a make a difference.’

Positive Futures has successfully piloted the training. Other organisations including Mainstay DRP; Camphill Community Glencraig; The Cedar Foundation; and NOW Group are set to follow in early 2026.

Organisations can register now by visiting https://bit.ly/Caring_for_our_World

Power NI, part of Energia Group, has announced a new partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful through the sponsorship of the Green Flag Award Programme, reinforcing a shared commitment between Power NI and Energia Group to supporting communities and high-quality environmental standards across Northern Ireland.

The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised benchmark for the management of parks and public spaces, setting clear standards for safety, sustainability and local community engagement. Awarded sites must meet rigorous criteria and reapply annually to retain their status, ensuring consistently high standards.

There are currently 118 Green Flag–recognised sites across Northern Ireland, including traditional parks, community-managed green spaces supported by voluntary groups, and heritage sites recognised for excellence in the care of historic features.

Power NI’s sponsorship will support the continued delivery and growth of the Green Flag initiative locally, with a particular focus on expanding the network of community-led Green Flag sites. The programme plays an important role in ensuring people, regardless of where they live, have access to well-managed green and open spaces that support physical and mental wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and community pride.

The Green Flag Award Programme also promotes best practice across the green space sector, providing guidance, assessment and recognition for those organisations, staff members and volunteers responsible for managing public spaces. By recognising excellence and encouraging continuous improvement, the scheme strengthens long-term stewardship of local environments.

William Steele, the Director of Customer Solutions at Power NI, said: “We are proud to sponsor the Green Flag Award Programme in Northern Ireland and to partner with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful on a programme that delivers tangible benefits for local communities.

“High-quality green spaces are vital to health, wellbeing and social connection, and this partnership supports the people and organisations working to maintain them,” he added.

“Our sponsorship will help grow the network of Green Flag community sites, encouraging local groups and residents to take an active role in caring for their environment and creating spaces that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.”

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has been working since 2000 to support people and nature thriving together, delivering environmental initiatives that help communities, councils and volunteers improve places and protect the natural environment.

The organisation is one of four charities supported by the Energia Group Greener Possibilities Fund. Aligned to UN SDG 11: Sustainable Communities and SDG 13: Climate Action, the Fund has also supported Grow NI this year, as well as Global Action Plan Ireland and FoodCloud in ROI. Administered by Community Foundation Ireland, the programme supports environmental and community-focused projects across the island of Ireland.

Eric Randall, CEO at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said: “We are delighted to partner with Power NI to deliver the Green Flag Programme in Northern Ireland. We are fortunate to have many beautiful green spaces in Northern Ireland – and their sustainable management plays a vital role in supporting healthy communities and biodiversity.

“One of the strengths of the Green Flag programme is that it provides an opportunity for community-led green spaces to be supported and recognised – and this partnership will enable us to do more in this area.”

Action Renewables has partnered with Eco-Schools, Northern Ireland’s largest environmental education programme, to support climate change awareness in schools.

Action Renewables, based in Belfast, are a leading provider of renewable energy expertise and provide support for renewable energy development, through trading electricity and renewable energy certificates.

Eco-Schools is an international environmental education programme, with local charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful operating the initiative in Northern Ireland. Action Renewables is delighted to support Eco-Schools NI by sponsoring their Climate Change topic.

This year has been a historic year for the Eco-Schools’ programme- with over fifty percent of schools in Northern Ireland reaching Green Flag status. The programme is designed to allow pupils to think about climate change on a global scale but act locally in their daily lives, to help ensure that our local communities and landscapes stay healthy.

The Eco-School’s Climate Change module counts as a step towards achieving the Internationally recognised Green Flag Award and supports students and teachers in learning about climate change and sustainability. The Climate Change topic explores a range of issues, including the causes of climate change and how to take action to prevent and reduce the effects of carbon on our environment.

Lana Moore, Head of Charity Delivery with Action Renewables said:

“Action Renewables is committed to tackling the impacts of climate change, and we’re excited that our sponsorship of the Climate Change topic will support the delivery of this programme. This partnership strengthens our charitable goals by helping to educate young people and teachers, while also supporting schools on their journey toward Green Flag status.”

Alice Buchanan, Education coordinator at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said:

"We are excited to partner with Action Renewables to deliver the Eco-Schools Climate Change topic to schools across Northern Ireland. As the climate crises continues growing, it is important now more than ever before that we take the time to teach our young people about climate change. Through the effective delivery of our range of environmental education programmes we can ensure that they feel empowered to take action”

Find out more: https://www.eco-schoolsni.org/cgi-bin/generic?instanceID=25

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Huhtamaki (Lurgan) has been unveiled as a new sponsor for the Eco-Schools programme in Northern Ireland.

Huhtamaki is a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions for consumers around the world. Huhtamaki has over 100 years of history employing around 18,000 employees, operating in 36 countries and 101 locations around the world. The Huhtamaki Lurgan site produces fiber egg cartons, cup carriers and lids, and is based in Dollingstown, Co. Armagh.

Eco-Schools is an international environmental education programme, with local charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful operating the initiative in Northern Ireland. This year was a historic year for the programme- with over half of schools in Northern Ireland reaching Green Flag status. The Eco-Schools programme is designed to allow pupils to think global but act local to help ensure that our wonderful world can look forward to a cleaner, greener future.

The Eco-School’s Litter topic aims to raise awareness of the impact litter has on our environment and demonstrate that litter reduction and prevention is an ongoing process involving the whole school community. It also encourages students to take action to improve their local environment through litter-picking, awareness campaigns or community events.

Schools can also raise awareness in class and at assemblies, appoint litter monitors and install more bins or move existing ones to problem areas.

Huhtamaki’s ambition is to become the first choice in sustainable packaging solutions, embedding sustainability in everything they do. Huhtamaki (Lurgan) is the biggest re-processer of recycled fibre in Northern Ireland.

Jeff Kearon, Supply Chain Manager, Huhtamaki Lurgan, said:

“We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Eco Schools Litter Programme this year and supporting schools to integrate environmental education into daily learning and school culture. The programme fits perfectly with Huhtamaki’s sustainability ambitions, and we are looking forward to helping students make environmental improvements both in and outside the classroom.

Eric Randall, CEO at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said:

“We’re delighted to partner with Huhtamaki to deliver of the Eco-Schools Litter topic. As the biodiversity and climate crises continue, environmental education is more important now than ever.

The Eco-Schools programme supports schools and pupils to improve their local environment, while at the same time equipping young people with the skills and resilience needed to address climate challenges head on.”

Find out more: https://www.eco-schoolsni.org/cgi-bin/generic?instanceID=16

Research highlights that our shores are still awash with discarded waste

Eighty-four per cent of the litter found on Northern Ireland’s beaches is made from plastic, according to data published by environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

The Marine Litter Report, which is now in its 12th year in 2024 and is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), shows that the average number of litter items present per 100 metres of beach surveyed in 2024 was 341, highlighting the need to continue our fight against litter.

Once again, the volume of plastics at the surveyed beaches featured prominently, reaching a staggering 84% of all litter recorded. Overall, 17,573 items of litter were detected on the beaches surveyed in 2024, demonstrating the need to move forward with proposals regarding a Deposit Return Scheme and Extended Producer Responsibility, as outlined in the Environmental Improvement Plan.

Other findings made available in the Marine Litter Report include the contents of the ‘Terrible Ten’ most observed litter culprits across beaches, which are dominated by plastic and polystyrene fragments sized under 2.5cm. This is followed by tangled fishing nets, rope, string, and cord with a diameter of less than 1cm. A key finding in this year's report is the significant amount of drink-related litter that has made the top ten.

The Marine Litter Report is an annual survey of 12 beaches around Northern Ireland’s coasts that are assessed by a team of trained operatives during the four seasons of the year. Drawing on the international OSPAR methodology, the results from each survey are added to a central database of 15 governments and the EU cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.

Eric Randall, Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said:

“This report highlights why we need to keep pushing forward on our fight against litter. The decrease in marine litter is welcome, but the rates are still far too high. It is easy to think that throwing away a plastic bottle or a straw has no consequence, but it is detrimental to our marine wildlife, and it hurts our local economy. This double whammy of damage must be turned around if we are to have truly thriving beaches and marinas.

I reaffirm Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful’s commitment to policies that move us away from the use of single-use plastics and encourage a circular economy where reuse becomes the norm. The findings in this report show why these changes are necessary in Northern Ireland.”

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “I welcome the publication of the Marine Litter Report 2024 by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and extend my sincere thanks to the volunteers and contributors whose dedication to surveying and cleaning our beaches is making a real difference.

“The statistics highlight the persistent problem of litter, particularly plastic, in our marine environment. This is a form of pollution that we can all help prevent at its source. Everyone has a role to play in tackling this avoidable problem and I am confident that through collaboration, increased public awareness as well as strong policy interventions, we can turn the tide on beach litter.

“I am proud that my Department continues to fund the Marine Litter Report. The data collected since 2012 has helped build a robust evidence base that informs our actions and supports long-term environmental protection.”

Read the Marine Litter Report at www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org/marinelitter.

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Notes to Editors

For more information about the Marine Litter Report 2024, please contact claire.irwin@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org

Environmental charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has released its annual Cleaner Neighbourhoods report, which provides a snapshot of the local environmental quality in all eleven council areas across Northern Ireland. The overall picture is consistent with that of the previous year; litter remains a significant environmental issue, particularly litter from single-use plastics.

The report highlights the need for action on key areas of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), which aim to tackle litter. Nearly a year since the publication of the EIP, the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Report highlights some particular areas that need to be advanced if Northern Ireland is to turn the tide on its litter problem. The EIP provides an important route map for Northern Ireland's pathway in fighting against the climate emergency. A range of policy initiatives, from the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme to Extended Producer Responsibility, can help us become a leader in this area. We require a range of policy approaches and resources to address this issue.

The report reveals that 19% of the surveyed areas failed to meet acceptable standards of cleanliness. Confectionery (58%) and cigarette litter (53%) are the two most commonly found types of litter in the surveyed transects, followed by litter from drinks (44%) and takeaway packaging (17%). A more commented-on form of litter, dog fouling, was found in 4% of transects, representing a decrease from 7% in 2023. Whilst some items of litter have decreased, the level is still too high.

Speaking about the report findings, the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir MLA said;

“I welcome the publication of the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Cleaner Neighbourhoods Report 2024/25. It is encouraging this report shows a decrease in some types of litter however there is always room for further progress. We must recognise that each of us has a role to play in reducing the litter found on our streets and in our local communities. I encourage everyone to play their part in the fight against littering as we strive to protect our environment for future generations as we seek to deliver a cleaner and greener Northern Ireland which is a better place to live and do business. Going forward, in addition to my Department’s 2022 legislation increasing the maximum fixed penalty councils can impose for littering offences to £200, DAERA will be playing its part by delivering on its Environmental Improvement Plan commitments to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme for drink containers and to phase in the Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme for packaging”

The Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Eric Randall, said:

“The publication of the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Report serves as a timely reminder that we must continue to apply pressure to reduce the amount of litter on our streets. This report makes a significant contribution to the debate on litter levels in Northern Ireland. Whilst it is welcome that litter levels have not increased, it is clear, that we still need to go further. It is crucial that policymakers continue work to progress the many initiatives outlined in the Executive’s Environmental Improvement Plan to tackle our litter problem. Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful publishes reports like this to inform the debate and help policymakers across government make informed decisions that make a difference.”

Note to Editors

For more information and to read the full Cleaner Neighbourhoods report visit: Cleaner Neighbourhoods Report (keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org)

For more information about the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Report 2024/25, please contact Claire Irwin at claire.irwin@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org.

The social value of our green spaces was celebrated at the annual Green Flag Awards at Bangor Castle Walled Garden. The green heroes from across Northern Ireland, Queen's University Belfast, and the Department of Finance were recognised today for the pivotal work they do in maintaining public spaces that provide a critical social value for the public.

A record-breaking 118 sites were awarded this year. This included 82 Green Flag Awards, and 36 Community Green Flags, for spaces managed by voluntary and community groups. Six Heritage Awards were given to sites who also demonstrated excellence in the care of their heritage elements. Four sites also received Green Flag NI Pollinator Awards.

This year, the focus of the awards is recognising the enormous social and environmental value that parks bring to our communities. The awards serve as a vital reminder to the public that our parks and green spaces are accessible to all throughout the year. We must celebrate and preserve them for future generations.

Looking after our green spaces plays a crucial role in supporting both wellbeing and biodiversity. The Green Flag programme sets international standards for our parks to strive toward and provides an important benchmark for the public to understand the quality of what is on their doorstep. This programme offers the opportunity to share best practice across different countries.

The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised certification for quality environmental management for parks and open spaces. It has become increasingly sought after in Northern Ireland since the local programme was launched in 2008.

Sinead Murray, Local Environmental Quality Manager at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful who manage the Green Flag accreditation in Northern Ireland, said;

“Our parks are local treasures that help our environment and our well-being. This year's awards have rightly focused on the social value that our green spaces deliver for all of us in Northern Ireland. As citizens, we should be proud of the high standards and the number of amazing spaces that are right on our doorstep. The Green Flag Awards serve as a timely reminder that environmental sustainability and well-being are inextricably linked. I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy their local Green Flag park. “

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “It’s hugely encouraging that this year a record-breaking number of sites have been awarded Green Flags in Northern Ireland.

“This is a respected accreditation recognised across 18 countries, setting a benchmark for high quality outdoor parks and green spaces which can help the public find the best areas to reconnect with nature.

“It’s also important to recognise the tireless work that goes into maintaining these spaces to make them such attractive facilities for their local communities. I would encourage everyone to get out and enjoy some time outdoors in their local Green Flag space.”

Notes to Editors

To view the full list of Green Flag Award winners for Northern Ireland, visit www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org/greenflagaward.

305 schools across NI will be awarded prestigious Eco-Schools Green Flags this year, bringing the total number of schools flying Green Flags up to 563, or just over 50% of all schools in Northern Ireland.

Eco-Schools is an international programme, managed locally by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Eco-Schools is run in 79 countries through Foundation for Environmental Education. Of these 79 countries, Northern Ireland is only the second country to achieve this impressive milestone.

Charlene McKeown, Environmental Education Manager at Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said:

“Reaching 50% of schools flying a Green Flag is a huge milestone for environmental education and is a testament to the hard work of pupils, teachers and wider school communities across Northern Ireland.

We all know that our education system is under pressure with tight budgets and limited resources. That is why it is so heartening to see so many schools investing time and effort into this programme- it's is a clear indicator that schools see the value of environmental education. I hope over the coming years we can go further in developing this part of our curriculum."

Schools will collect their Green Flags at a series of awards ceremonies this month- the culmination of 2 years of hard work for winning schools.

Achieving a Green Flag requires schools to participate in a challenging seven stage programme, beginning with the establishment of a pupil-led Eco-Committee, and leading to the development of a school Eco-Code. Along the way the Eco-Committee must carry out a full environmental review of their school, develop a detailed action plan and monitor its implementation. Schools fly their flags for two years before they must reapply.

Emma Craig, a teacher at Bocombra Primary School, and this year’s Eco-Teacher of the year for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area said:

“Being awarded our 4th Green Flag is a moment of immense pride and we are delighted to be recognised as a school where environmental learning and action are part of our daily routine. For staff, it recognises their dedication and willingness to embed environmental values into their teaching and for pupils, it is a lovely reward for their hard work. Environmental education is not only about protecting the planet—it’s about nurturing capable and conscientious individuals and by being involved in projects such as developing our outdoor learning, pupils will develop important life skills while spending more time outdoors, even in all weathers!”

The Eco-Schools programme in NI is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir, who was not in attendance at the event, said: “Eco-Schools is an international programme that brings the environment into the classroom. Getting pupils outdoors to learn about their environment is a great boost for their wellbeing and has many positive outcomes for their community.

"I want to congratulate all those schools receiving green flags this month and pay tribute to the hard work of teachers and pupils alike. I am delighted that this year, we have reached a milestone of 50% of schools in Northern Ireland now flying a green flag. It is encouraging to see the strong environmental knowledge and awareness within these school communities, as younger people will play a vital role in shaping a sustainable future for us all.”

Northern Ireland has a long history of being a trailblazer in the Eco-Schools programme. Downpatrick Nursery was the first school in the world to achieve a Green Flag in 1994.

Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) operate Eco-Schools globally, Dr. Pramod Kumar Sharma, Senior Director of Education for Eco-Schools commented:

"Congratulations to everyone in Northern Ireland’s Eco-Schools community on this incredible achievement! 50% of your schools now hold a Green Flag! This is a powerful reflection of your passion, dedication, and hard work to create a more sustainable future. You’re not just making a difference locally; you’re also setting an example for Eco-Schools around the world. We’re so proud to have you as part of our global Eco-Schools community.”

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myEARTH, a new digital hub for environmental knowledge and action, has officially launched in Northern Ireland. The website is designed to connect families and households to the organisations who are taking positive action for the environment – and crucially makes it easy for them to take part.

Developed by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, in collaboration with Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL), myEARTH connects and supports a growing network of local changemakers focused on environmental action. With early backing from these organisations, myEARTH is gaining traction as delivery partners across Northern Ireland begin to adopt the platform, including the National Trust, Ulster Wildlife, RSPB NI and The Weatherbies. Users can discover local events, activities, resources and opportunities from these, and many more, partners.

By creating an online community, myEARTH will help families discover local events and environmental activities, from beach cleans to wildlife watches, and encourage them to participate. Users will not only be able to find activities that suit their household – such as community litter-picks, tree planting, and recycling projects – they will be encouraged to use and collect digital Action Cards. Each card includes clear, step-by-step guidance, making it easy for anyone to get involved in a particular activity – and every activity makes a difference.

The launch of myEARTH is a significant step in raising the profile of environmental education whilst driving community action throughout Northern Ireland. It is also anticipated to accelerate digital transformation, and support the resilience of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector through innovative ways of working.

Rachael Thomas, Project Manager at myEARTH, said, “At its core, myEARTH simplifies environmental action by uniting the efforts of everyone on one easy-to-use platform. Our research told us that whilst there is a huge appetite for families and households to do their bit to tackle the climate emergency, there were barriers in place around sourcing and gathering the information required to take part. myEARTH uses tech to break down these barriers – ultimately, we are creating an online community of people and connecting them to local activities, events, and ideas to get them and their families involved and active in caring for nature, tackling climate change, and making a difference – right on their doorstep.

“From the very beginning, our goal has been to open the door to participation. Everyone is welcome, not just those already involved in environmental efforts. With the summer approaching, we’re calling on families and households to get online, get involved and get active so we can all help protect the planet together.”

Max Bryant CEO at Northern Ireland Environmental Link said, "As the networking and forum body for organisations interested in the natural and built environment, Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) strives to connect this network for a more valued, resilient, healthy environment. The delivery of myEARTH with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful extends our work through the website as a hub to highlight environmental efforts in NI to a wider audience via opportunities, action, resources and impact. We look forward to seeing the measure of this impact through the public interaction with myEARTH and our networks."

The myEARTH project is funded through a £488,557 grant from Dormant Assets NI, which is delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund.

Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Kate Beggs, Northern Ireland Director of The National Lottery Community Fund said, “I’m delighted to see the launch of the myEARTH platform. Dormant Assets funding in Northern Ireland aims to build the capacity, sustainability and resilience of the VCSE sector, and this project will contribute to that by providing much needed collaboration, resources and support to VCSE organisations to get involved in environmental activity and collectively track their impact.”

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) supported the concept development stage of myEARTH.

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said, “It is great to see this easy-to-use web resource to help communities, families and individuals identify and undertake actions to improve our environment across Northern Ireland - positive actions for biodiversity, air quality, recycling and so many more ideas. I applaud this collaborative effort between so many organisations to bring together access to all this information in one place to help friends, family, colleagues and groups to make a positive impact on our environment.”

To mark the launch of the platform, the myEARTH Summer ImpACT Competition challenges families to complete one of four eco-themed Action Cards for the chance to win a National Trust Family Membership, with entries closing on Sunday 31st August 2025. The competition is free to enter. T&Cs apply.

For more information visit www.myearth.org.uk

A groundbreaking environmental education training facility has been launched at Stranmillis University College, Belfast.

The outdoor learning site features a mini orchard, polytunnel, fruit bushes, woodland area, group shelter, willow dome, wildflower area and raised planting beds. 

Students from a range of teaching qualifications will use the site to deepen their own knowledge about biodiversity habitats, environmental protection and food growing skills. 

The site is one element of Generation Nature, a project developed by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, in collaboration with Stanmillis University College. Generation Nature is funded by Energia’s Greener Possibilities fund, and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

The project is designed to improve teaching confidence levels on crucial climate issues. Globally, a UNESCO survey found that 95% of primary and secondary teachers felt that teaching climate change is important, but less than 30% expressed a readiness to teach it.

The Generation Nature project also includes lectures on nature awareness delivered to students each year, followed up by the opportunity to turn this knowledge into practice by using the teaching site. This provides an opportunity for them to learn how nature awareness can be included in learning across a range of subjects in school.

Stranmillis has committed to including this nature awareness learning in core curriculum compulsory activities- a first for the College.

Commenting on the new initiative, Prof. Jonathan Heggarty, Stranmillis University College Principal, said:

“Outdoor learning is increasingly recognised as an important component of education—fostering creativity, hands-on engagement, environmental awareness and physical wellbeing, while also developing key life skills in young people. Stranmillis continues to provide educational leadership in this area, with our academic research, teaching, and scholarship in outdoor learning at both undergraduate and Masters levels helping shape educational practice and policy across Northern Ireland and beyond.

What sets the College apart is our commitment to turn research and theory into action. As Northern Ireland’s first designated eco-campus, we embed sustainability into many aspects of campus life. Initiatives such as our involvement in Forest Schools, the launch of the interactive Centenary Nature Trail, and the development of the Out and About outdoor learning resource reflect our dedication to nurturing environmentally conscious communities.

In partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, our newest initiative- Generation Nature, takes this commitment even further. This innovative programme supports student educators with tools and training to integrate sustainability into the curriculum. A special focus on growing food—through school gardens, planting projects, and eco-friendly gardening practices—gives pupils first-hand experience of where food comes from, the importance of biodiversity, and the environmental impact of food systems.

Generation Nature helps tomorrow’s teachers reconnect with the natural world, fostering a sense of responsibility and hope for a more sustainable future—one seed, one lesson at a time.”

Eric Randall, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said:

“We are delighted to see the Generation Nature site launched today. We know that our young people face greater environmental challenges than ever before. This project is about equipping teachers with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to prepare future generations to tackle these challenges head on.”

The site was opened with a planting workshop attended by Stranmillis student teachers and pupils from Stranmillis primary school.

Gwyneth Compston, CSR Manager as Power NI, part of the Energia Group said:

“It’s great to be able to support our Greener Possibilities Charity, Keep NI Beautiful with the launch of their Generation Nature project.

The aims of the Greener Possibilities Fund are closely aligned with UN Social Development Goal 11 on Sustainable Communities and 13 on Climate Action, as well as Energia Group’s on-going commitment to sustainability and the community, so it has been great to be able to provide support and bolster the valuable work being done by Generation Nature.

This garden will help to educate our next generation of teachers and children in biodiversity and sustainability, helping to implement positive and lasting change.”

The Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, MLA said:

“I am very proud that my Department has supported the Generation Nature programme which will help our teachers confidently share their knowledge and improve nature awareness among our young people. Education is vital in tackling environmental challenges, and the skills developed at this site will ensure our teachers have the chance to learn, to connect with others and to take action to create a cleaner, greener and healthier environment for us all.”