At St. Mary's CE Primary School, we have a very dedicated Eco-school Council!

Please scroll down to find out about our Community Conservation Area Project

Firstly, our planet (and all life on it) is already beginning to feel the catastrophic effects of climate change, plastic pollution, biodiversity loss and a myriad of other environmental challenges. We want our pupils to be aware of the challenges our planet faces and will continue to face throughout their lifetimes. We don’t want our pupils to avoid or shy away from these challenges: we want to engage our young people in conversations about our world and provide them with the skills needed to tackle these challenges directly.

We hope to empower our pupils with the passion and skills to protect our planet now and throughout their lifetimes, including as they grow to become leaders, decision-makers and educators themselves. We also hope it will help our pupils – independent research has found that pupil participation in Eco-Schools leads to increased confidence, development of leadership skills, improved behaviour and greater motivation at school.

We also anticipate this will help our school to consume less water, use less energy, and produce less waste. Already we have seen s difference in staff and pupil understanding and our eco team have worked hard to ensure we all play our part in looking after our school environment. 

Our Eco-Committee members are yet to decide on the environmental actions we will embark on this next academic year. However, over the coming months, you may notice ecological hints and tips on our school newsletters, litter picks and, most noticeably, a young person in your home with a keen interest in all things environmental. This interest may manifest in various ways, including: increased awareness of correct recycling practices, a determination to switch lights off when not in use, and offers to help nurture nearby plants!

A visit from Beryl and the hedgehog she rescued

We learnt so much from our prickly visitor and her carer. Beryl, a local resident, was able to raise our awareness of how endangered hedgehogs are and explained what we can do if we come across them in our gardens.

Did you know...

Hedgehogs help maintain the balance of their habitats by controlling insect populations. They eat a variety of garden pests, such as slugs, snails, caterpillars, beetles, aphids, and earthworms, which can help keep plants healthy and reduce the need for chemical pesticides. A decline in hedgehog numbers could mean that these pests are not being controlled well, which could have negative effects on other creatures, such as birds and bats. 

  

Click here for more Hedgehog facts and how you can help them in your garden. 

 

Community Conservation Area Project

Re-establishing our wildlife area will provide many opportunities for extending classroom activities. We feel that if the pupils are involved in the creation and maintenance of such an area, they will learn to respect the hard work and skill necessary to produce and maintain an attractive environment. It will also give them a sense of pride and achievement – and hopefully encourage them to develop a life-long respect for the environment in general. With this in mind, in Term 5, Mrs Fox and the Eco-School Committee wrote to local community groups and businesses in a drive to redevelop our conservation area. The support and feedback has been amazing. Please watch this space for further information and changes afoot!