Hitchin nursery celebrate Green Flag eco award with Local MP

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

MONDAY 14^th JULY 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

York Road Nursery and Pre-School hosted Alistair Strathern, MP for the Hitchin constituency, on Monday to celebrate receiving Green Flag Eco School Status with distinction.

The Nursery invited Strathern to visit the school’s new sensory garden, and discuss the importance of their environmental work for children and staff at the school.

Strathern gave a shout out later in the day to the Nursery in the House of Commons, and Energy and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband joined him in congratulating the pre-school for its award-winning work.

On the visit Strathern met with the school’s Eco Council to hear what they enjoyed most about the new sensory garden. The group is a dedicated band of environmental 4-year-olds, keen to do their part to protect nature and the environment. The children helped design the sensory garden, planting herbs, veg and flowers, and decorating the pathway with items they brought in from home.

As a constituency MP, Strathern has continually supported measures to defend our local environment, showcasing sustainable farming methods in parliament, and campaigning for tougher ocean protections and solar panels on new homes.

As a former children’s services lead at a council, Strathern has visited dozens of schools since becoming an MP and has made improving local education a priority.

Alistair Strathern MP said

“It’s fantastic to see the efforts of York Road Nursery rewarded with Green Flag status.

“The children at York Road have designed and created a fantastic sensory garden. Not only are they clearly creative and environmentally-aware, but great tour guides too based on how they talked me though their own personal highlights in the new garden!

“It is so important we all play our part in championing nature and the environment, and it’s great to see local nurseries like York Road leading the way.

“They thoroughly deserve their Green Flag award!”

Speaking in the Commons, Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, Ed Miliband MP said:

“Let me congratulate my honourable friend’s school, on what they are doing in their green flag status, which is really important.

“It shows that local action can really make a difference.”

Notes for Editors

You can see an image of Strathern at the Nursery, attached.

You can see Strathern’s post on the visit here

You can find more information about the Nursery here: York Road Nursery & Pre-School

You can find more info on the Green Flag accreditation What is Eco-Schools? - Eco Schools