St Mary's Primary School in Cookstown secures funding from Lidl’s £25,000 Green Fund
St Mary’s Primary School in Cookstown is one of six organisations and schools awarded funding by the Lidl Northern Ireland Green Fund.
As part of their aim of achieving a Green Flag Award - an international accreditation which recognises well-managed green spaces - the Tyrone Primary School applied for funding to install a polytunnel on the grounds of the school, allowing pupils and the wider community to grow their own fruit, vegetables, and flowers.
The school was awarded £4,200 to develop the project, which they hope will be successful in engaging pupils and their families with sustainability, and fostering an appreciation for nature, while making a tangible impact on the local environment.
The Lidl Green Fund, which launched last year in partnership with Business in the Community Northern Ireland, is designed to support local initiatives addressing key environmental challenges across climate action, biodiversity, circular economy and sustainable living. A total fund of £25,000 was awarded, with one project selected from each county across Northern Ireland.
Schools, charities and community groups from across the region applied, with each winning project receiving up to £4,200 to help deliver sustainable, community-focused initiatives.
The funding awarded to St Mary’s Primary School will also benefit the wider community in Cookstown, with plans in place to share the space with Stewartstown in Bloom members and local families, who will have access to the polytunnel.
The project is just one of the ways St Mary’s is working to educate and inspire pupils to become responsible stewards for the environment and promote sustainability within the school and its local community.
Speaking about their success, Mrs Shaunagh Devlin, Principal of St Mary’s Primary School, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding from Lidl Northern Ireland’s Green Fund. We are committed to making our school a more sustainable and healthier environment for our pupils, and the polytunnel will allow us to develop their understanding of biodiversity, food waste and nutrition.
"We hope to grow our own fruit and vegetables, as well as implement new composting systems to reduce food waste. This is an important step in achieving our goal of receiving a Green Flag Award.”