OKEHAMPTON Primary School returned from their Easter break with a brand new flag flying over the school —but it wasn't a new Union Jack to celebrate the Royal wedding.

This new flag is bright green, after the school's application for the prestigious Eco School Green Flag was successful.

The Eco-Schools programme is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world. Eco-Schools in England is run by Keep Britain Tidy, and has over 12,100 schools participating.

The school has been working hard for the past two years to earn the flag, which is the highest Eco School award available.

Children had to demonstrate their knowledge and practical understanding on nine environmental issues, including litter, bio-diversity and energy.

Scrap books, powerpoint presentations, posters, newspaper cuttings, action plans, energy audits and songs on ecological issues were presented to the Eco School assessor by ten selected members of the school's environmental group Eco Watch.

The children presented their hard work and toured the school grounds with the assessor in 90 minutes — no mean feat!

The school was praised by the assessor for its 'inspirational enthusiasm' for environmental issues.

Particular praise was paid to the work carried out to reduce landfill waste by composting all of its raw food waste and their recycling endeavours, as well as the school grounds and allotment areas.

Frances Rickwood, eco school co-ordinator, said: 'It was a delight to see the Eco Watch children rise to the challenge.

'They were initially a little nervous about being assessed but once the first question was asked, the flood gates opened and they didn't stop talking for ninety minutes!

'They worked really hard to impart as much of their knowledge and understanding in the short time available and were extremely successful in doing so.

'I was so proud to take a back seat at the meeting and listen to them talking with such commitment and enthusiasm.

'I am extremely grateful to the local community support that has part-funded my role over the last two years. Without the financial and practical help from people like the Okehampton Rotary Club we would never have been able to achieve the Green Flag in two years.'

Now that the school has their sought after Green Flag, they must continue their work on the nine topics in further details before re-applying for their second flag in two years time.

The school hopes that it can work with other local primary schools to help them achieve Eco School awards.