This Summer Term, the RSPB together with National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, WWF, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the Woodland Trust celebrated all the incredible efforts schools across the UK make to protect and restore nature in their school grounds through Schools For Nature.
This culminated in Schools For Nature certificates (signed by Sir David Attenborough) being awarded to hundreds of schools who had helped nature in their schools in the 2022-2023 academic year.
Image: Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
Many schools held open day events to invite the community into school to learn more about how the pupils have been increasing the biodiversity of their school grounds. Many shared what they had been doing with the online community using #SchoolsForNature.
Sophie Hind, Sustainability Development Lead and Nursery teacher at Whitehall Primary School in Waltham, shares how an immersive open event showcased how nature is at the very heart of their school culture.
Open Day Event
All images below by Sophie Hind
"On the 22nd of June 2023, our school underwent a transformation into a gallery space and interactive exhibition dedicated to raising awareness about Climate Action." Explains Sophie.
Spread the word – advocacy for nature
"The children are advocates for the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as UNICEF's 'Rights of the Child.' The children dedicated a lot of time and effort to create installations for our recent Climate Action exhibition. The children all acted as representatives of this event, explaining and modelling the interactive activity visitors could partake in. They were excited to spread the word about the global goals, ranging from Life Below Water to Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure."
"Each area was dedicated to a specific climate action goal or theme. Visitors stepped into the beehive room, where a video of children dancing to Flight of the Bumblebees showcased the significance of bees for ecological health. Information about their importance was shared."
The exhibition included various other themed sections all sharing examples of learning and the efforts the children have been making to inspire change.
"The event had a fantastic turn out, with members of the general public, families, MPs, representatives from charities like Earth Watch and other headteachers in attendance."
To find out more about the rest of Whitehall's exhibition, visit their Instagram here.
Protecting and Restoring Nature Projects in Whitehall
Whitehall school have been taking actions to protect and restore nature in their school grounds through a range of projects such as; planting for wildlife with donated trees; building and maintaining a bug hotel, and constructing a hibernation destination for a hedgehog the children spotted in their grounds. According to Sophie, the learners at Whitehall have plans to "enhance local biodiversity and create a thriving ecosystem" through the building of a school pond next. We'll be keeping our eyes out for updates via social media to see the pond's progress!
If you want to share how your school incorporates nature into its teaching and learning, then we would love to see it! Tag us on Instagram @rspb_learning , on Facebook @rspbeducation and on X (formerly Twitter) @RSPB_Learning