A Laois school's environmental and sustainable efforts have been recognised through a national award.

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Scoil Fionntain Naofa, Shanahoe, Abbeyleix were delighted to receive the 'Nature Hero Award' sponsored by Glenveagh Homes.

This national award, which is sponsored by Glenveagh Homes, is a mark of excellence for a school recognising exceptional work by pupils and teachers to help promote awareness and appreciation of nature in its many forms. ​

The aim of the award is to create an educational space that nurtures a love of nature, develops a knowledge of biodiversity & encourages action to help it locally.

It covers many topics from nature conservation to school gardening, and eco-literacy to wellbeing.

It was the first time for the 65 pupil school in Shanahoe to apply for a Nature Hero award, and they were extremely happy when they were awarded the highest level of award namely the ‘Golden Eagle’, which was certainly beyond their expectations.

They are the first school in Laois to achieve the ‘Nature Hero’ accolade.

"The school has a great interest in outdoor education/learning and the school grounds are utilised throughout the school year for facilitating active, meaningful and engaging learner experiences for all pupils," principal Barry Whelan told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"Pupils from Junior Infants to 6th Class and those in the Sonas Special Class were all actively involved in working towards achieving the ‘Nature Hero’ award in this school year."

In applying for the Nature Hero award this year, the school built on the great work done by the Green Schools committee under the guidance and direction of teacher, Mrs. Kris Cahill, in 2022-2024 in achieving their fifth Green Schools flag for biodiversity.

In this school year (2024-2025), the school achieved the following in the nature and outdoor learning domain:

● the installation of a wildlife pond in the biodiversity area, with sponsorship very kindly provided by Laois County County,
Breslin’s Super Valu in Abbeyleix and First Ireland Spirits in Abbeyleix;

● the installation of a leaf composting cage and wormery as part of the 'Composting in Schools' programme with Craig Benton;

● the planting of a native hedgerow with saplings provided under the Trees on the Land scheme;

● the planting of a mini native woodland in the biodiversity area, with trees provided under the Free Trees Ireland scheme;

● the installation of a range of new bird and bat boxes around the school grounds, which were made by Portlaoise Men's Shed;

● the installation of a new bird care and feeding station;

● the installation of additional water butts to harvest rainwater;

● the creation of a new living Willow dome with Beth Murphy under the Heritage in Schools scheme;

● the use of peat free compost only for planting purposes around the school;

● the elimination of the use of all herbicides and pesticides in the school grounds, with all weeding now done by hand;

● the creation of Nature Tables and/or Nature Boards in all classrooms, which in turn evolved with the seasons;

● the planting of raised vegetable beds which were installed in the last school year (2023-2024);

● the creation of a Sensory Planting Space by pupils in the Sonas Class, with sponsorship for plants being very kindly provided by Clancy Construction in Portlaoise;

● the installation of solitary bee homes in different locations around the school grounds.

Mr. Barry Whelan (Principal & teacher of 5th and 6th Class) co-ordinated the Nature Hero award at school level this year, and was ably supported by Mrs. Kris Cahill (2nd, 3rd and 4th Class Teacher, and Green Schools Co-ordinator) together with the very active and hardworking Green Schools committee.