Falinge Park High School wins £5,000 in national STEM competition to restore sphagnum moss in peat bogs

Team Falinge, the first UK winners of the OurEchoChallenge

A team of students from Falinge Park High School have won a £5,000 prize in a STEM competition which has reached the UK for the first time.

The annual OurEcho Challenge by nonprofit EarthEcho International has been running in the United States for three years – and now Falinge Park High School has won the very first UK contest.

OurEcho Challenge encourages students to take a closer look at biodiversity in their communities, identify threats to local ecosystems and then propose solutions to help preserve, protect or repair those natural resources.

Three winning entries will receive funding and support to implement and track the success of the innovative solutions they have proposed, with grants ranging from £1,000 to £5,000 to help turn their projects into reality.

Falinge Park High School has won the top £5,000 prize for their project: to increase the amount of sphagnum moss in local peat bogs to make a positive impact on biodiversity and air quality.

The team’s community council has a goal to 'restore 50-75% of peatland by 2038' so they are taking small steps to make a big difference as well as make their school a better place for all living things.

Rose Edmondson, who mentored the team, said: "We are absolutely over the moon to have won the £5,000 prize which will go such a long way to help us work with so many community partners to help improve biodiversity in Rochdale and help to replenish moss in the North West. 

"I am incredibly proud of our team who have worked so hard and we are exceptionally excited to work with the EarthEcho International team to start putting our ideas into action."

EarthEcho founder Philippe Cousteau Jr. said: “The 2023 OurEcho Challenge grand prize winners impressed our judges with their in-depth knowledge of local biodiversity issues and their vision in developing viable solutions tailored to their communities.

“We congratulate all of the finalist teams who participated in the challenge, and we know their passion and dedication will inspire others to take action for a sustainable future for all.”