Schools in Louth urged to enter the Nature Hero Awards

The Nature Hero Awards has this week opened registrations to schools in Louth.

Nature Hero Award, proudly sponsored by Glenveagh, is a national campaign to support schools with their biodiversity goals and provide a mark of excellence to schools who create an educational space that nurtures a love of nature, develops a knowledge of our biodiversity, and encourages action to help it locally. 

Those who sign up will receive a checklist of tasks they must complete to become a Nature Hero. Projects vary from ensuring outdoor learning time to hanging bird nest boxes. Tasks can be completed at your own pace between now and March 2024. 

Once completed, schools are awarded a plaque to celebrate their commitment to outdoor education and biodiversity. 

The overall Nature Hero Award winner will also receive a plaque to mark their win, as well as a €10,000 school garden makeover. 

Speaking on the Nature Hero Awards, campaign ambassador Fionnuala Moran said: “I am delighted to be part of this year’s Nature Hero Awards. It is so important that we encourage children to foster a love and understanding for nature from a young age. By becoming a Nature Hero, these students are making a vital contribution to a more sustainable future.” 

The 2023 Nature Hero Award was awarded to Powerstown Educate Together National School in Tyrrelstown, Dublin and the school was able to continue their already great work of transforming their gardens to help biodiversity and boost outdoor learning for their students.

Mark Nolan, Director of Biodiversity in Schools said: "It was inspirational to see the amazing biodiversity work completed by young people and their teachers across Ireland last year.

"We are thrilled to begin our work with schools again this year and help them with their outdoor learning. We are so proud to deliver the Nature Hero Awards, and great to have Glenveagh Homes onboard again as sponsors of the programme.”

Glenveagh, says the Nature Hero Award is a natural fit with its "commitment to investing in sustainable communities and supporting local schools and businesses around Ireland". Together with the schools partner, Biodiversity in Schools, Glenveagh says it is to be sponsoring the awards for the second year in a row.

Commenting on the programme, Annette McGarry, Community Engagement Manager at Glenveagh said, “It was amazing to see the commitment to biodiversity from all of the participants last year and we are excited to see the incredible work this year’s pupils will do.

"We are so proud to support the Nature Hero Awards again this year as it is a key part of our Building Lasting Communities educational programme.”

For schools wishing to enter, simply register via www.biodiversityinschools.com, download the checklist and start completing tasks!