Saint Kevin's College, Lisnaskea officially launched its Eco Project on Wednesday, February 2.

The Lisnaskea school is participating in a pilot programme in conjunction with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

With the help of Bio-Diversity and Environmental Officers from the Council, Council Chairman Errol Thompson – and members from the school's Board of Governors – planted the first of many trees.

The pilot scheme has been developed by Council officers and the school to raise awareness of littering, waste and recycling, biodiversity, and people's impact on the environment.

The scheme will run for 12 weeks, and a baseline survey has been conducted amongst students and their families to ascertain their existing awareness of related issues.

Feedback will be provided at the end of the pilot programme to determine if the programme made a difference, and how the school wants to raise awareness and develop students who are willing to make a change and impact through careers in the environment.

As such, during the 12-week programme, Council officers will deliver workshops to various student groups and teachers will provide overlapping themes during class sessions.

The Chairman of the school's Board of Governors, Councillor Thomas O'Reilly noted that "each one of us has to take our ownership in protecting our environment, and to do even a little bit helps – we have noticed a big difference in the last few weeks since we have started the school's litter-picking programme".

Mr. O'Reilly also noted that he hoped the students of Saint Kevin's College "would take the lessons they had learned [through the programme] and pass them out to their friends, family and neighbours and help to improve our district".

Principal Gary Kelly said that he "was looking forward to all the good work the school was going to do in the weeks and months ahead".