Project ELLA Environmental Initiative Brings Students to Donaghadee

Students from Bloomfield Primary School visited Pink's Green in Donaghadee where they took part in litter picking and rock pool exercises as part of Ards and North Down Borough Council's environmental awareness initiative, Project ELLA.

Launched almost two years ago, Project ELLA focuses on the four keys of Environment, Learning, Lifestyle and Action. It is primarily a schools based programme that gives students the opportunity to learn about the importance of environmental protection as well as the role that residents have in improving and enhancing the Borough through positive environmental action and behaviour.

After successfully completing a beach clean where they collected bags of litter and debris from the area, Bloomfield Primary School's Year 5 students gained an insight into marine biodiversity through rook pooling. They found crabs, starfish and more, and learned about how threats such as climate change, litter and pollution can affect the environment.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Alistair Cathcart, said:

"Project ELLA is about connecting people to the landscape and our natural environment and encouraging positive actions and behaviours. It is a collaborative concept that is designed to improve and protect our natural environment by way of education and community engagement. Working with local children helps to instil that sense of community and accountability from a young age and it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm of Bloomfield Primary School's Year 5 students as they completed their tasks."

For more information about Project Ella, visit www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk/project-ella or email projectella@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk