St Aidan’s and St Mary’s both scoop ‘best kept’ accolades

Teachers and pupils at two schools in Limavady are celebrating after scooping titles in a high profile environmental awards scheme.
St. Aidans: Doreen Muskett MBE, NIAC: Lisa Wilson: Sara McLaughin: Ethan McLaughin: Rev. Robert Herron (WELB).St. Aidans: Doreen Muskett MBE, NIAC: Lisa Wilson: Sara McLaughin: Ethan McLaughin: Rev. Robert Herron (WELB).
St. Aidans: Doreen Muskett MBE, NIAC: Lisa Wilson: Sara McLaughin: Ethan McLaughin: Rev. Robert Herron (WELB).

St. Aidan’s Primary School came runner up in the Primary section of the 2013 Best Kept School Awards for the Western Education and Library Board region, while St. Mary’s Secondary School came runner up in the Post Primary section of the awards.

The Best Kept School Awards are organised annually by the Northern Ireland Amenity Council (NIAC) and acknowledge the outstanding commitment of local schools to green projects and environmental education.

Almost two hundred schools from across Northern Ireland entered the awards this year and NIAC judges have been travelling the country for months in search of the cleanest, tidiest and most environmentally active schools. Winning schools include those with recycling projects, wildlife areas and anti-litter campaigns.

NIAC Chairman Doreen Muskett MBE commented; “The Best Kept School Awards were set up to acknowledge the great environmental work being done in schools across Northern Ireland, which is encouraging children to develop an interest in the natural world and how we impact on it.

“As part of the judging process we look for evidence of pupil participation in environmental projects, and of course clean and tidy school grounds and St. Aidan’s Primary and St. Mary’s Secondary School are just wonderful on all these fronts. Top marks for these schools!”

Category winners in the awards are presented with a cash prize to help them with their environmental endeavours, along with a personalized sign and a perpetual crystal trophy. Runners up are recognised with a special certificate and a monetary donation. The overall winning school – this year St. Joseph’s Primary School, Carryduff - receives an additional cash prize.

‘Best Kept’ was pioneered in the early ’50s by Professor Arthur Muskett. Northern Ireland led the field in this type of community-based competition which is now conducted in the rest of Britain, Ireland and throughout Europe under the titles of ‘Britain in Bloom’, ‘Tidy Towns’ and ‘Entente Florale’ respectively. There are awards in NI for towns and villages, housing areas, schools and healthcare facilities.