Eco Schools Green Flag Award
We’re delighted to share some exciting news…
Eden Early Years has officially been awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award!
This internationally recognised accreditation celebrates our commitment to caring for our environment and encouraging children to understand the important role they can play in looking after our planet. But for us, the Green Flag represents much more than an award. It reflects something that has always been at the heart of Eden Early Years: our love of nature and our belief that children learn best when they are given the freedom to explore, discover and connect with the natural world.
Nature is at the heart of Eden
Our nature ethos is woven into everyday life at Eden Early Years.
We want our children to develop a genuine connection with the world around them - to notice the changing seasons, discover minibeasts, watch plants grow and understand that nature is something to be cared for and enjoyed. Being outdoors gives children endless opportunities to learn.
Growing, planting and learning at the allotment
One of the ways we bring this learning to life is through our trips to the allotment. At the allotment, our children can get their hands in the soil, plant and care for vegetables, observe insects and discover where some of our food comes from. These experiences provide so many valuable learning opportunities.
Children develop an understanding of growth and change, while also beginning to appreciate the time, care and resources involved in producing the food we eat. And, of course, there is nothing quite like the excitement of discovering that something they have helped to grow is ready to harvest!
Learning beyond the nursery gates
Our commitment to nature doesn't stop at the nursery.
Our outdoor trips give children the opportunity to experience different environments and discover the wonderful natural spaces around them. Whether we're exploring woodland, visiting green spaces, walking through the local area or simply stopping to investigate something that has caught our attention, we encourage children to be curious about the world around them.
Little changes can make a big difference
Sustainability is also about the everyday choices we make.
At Eden Early Years, we encourage children to think about how we can reuse, reduce and recycle. From finding new uses for everyday materials to thinking carefully about what we throw away, we want children to understand that even small actions can have an impact.
Reusing resources also encourages creativity. A cardboard box can become almost anything when children are given the opportunity to imagine! By using recycled and repurposed materials within our play and learning, we can reduce waste while giving children the freedom to create, experiment and problem-solve.
We also encourage conversations around looking after our resources, reducing waste and making thoughtful choices - helping children begin to understand that we don't need to use something once and simply throw it away.
Raising little eco-champions
Achieving our Eco-Schools Green Flag is a wonderful recognition of the work taking place across Eden Early Years, but our journey doesn't end here.
If anything, it encourages us to keep asking questions:
How can we do things more sustainably?
How can we give our children even more opportunities to connect with nature?
How can we help the next generation understand the importance of caring for our planet?
We know that young children have an incredible capacity to notice, question and care. By giving them meaningful experiences in nature and involving them in sustainable practices from an early age, we hope to nurture a lifelong respect for the environment.
A Green Flag to be proud of
We are incredibly proud to have achieved our Eco-Schools Green Flag, and we would like to say a huge thank you to our children, families and team for being part of our journey.
From muddy hands at the allotment and adventures outdoors, to planting seeds, reusing materials and learning to recycle, every experience contributes to something bigger.
Together, we're helping our children grow — while also helping our planet grow greener.
And that is something worth celebrating!
