Eco News

Getting Started!

Hartford Eco-Schools started with an assembly to explain to the children about the Eco-Schools program.They watched video clips of schools already involved in the program and looked at what they were doing to become sustainable and achieve awards. Following the assembly, Mrs John, a teaching assistant in the school said that she would like to join the team. Next we asked for some children to be elected as eco councillors.

In our first meeting we did an environmental review of what we were already doing in school to look after and improve the environment. After that we created an action plan to make further improvements.We chose five eco themes to focus on. Click here to see our first action plan.

Going For Bronze!

During the Autumn term we worked on our energy theme about reducing our C02 emissions and reducing our energy bills. We shared bills during an eco assembly and the children were shocked to see the amount we spend on fuel. We asked everyone in school to turn off lights and computers when not in use, close doors to keep in heat and turn down radiators. Some of the eco councillors monitored this and took meter readings.

We also focused on our biodiversity theme. We tried to encourage nature into our courtyard by laying living logs for insects to live in, putting up bird feeders and planting bulbs and flowers.

At the end of the Autumn term we did an online assessment to if we had achieved the criteria for a bronze award and were thrilled to find out that we had. We were very proud of our achievements in such a short space of time.

Going For Silver!

In the Spring term we decided to carry on with our biodiversity theme and encourage birds into the school grounds by putting up nest boxes. We invested in two nest boxes that have been adapted to hold a webcam so that we could watch the birds inside. Carl Barimore, a member of the B.T.O (British Trust for Ornithology), came to help set up the nestboxes and suggested where to put them. There was alot of bird activity in the courtyard. We waited excitedly as we saw BlueTits flying in and out of the boxes. Unfortunately none decided to stay. So Carl came back and took the webcam away and adapted it so that it could be positioned above an occupied nest. The webcam was linked to a computer in the I.C.T suite so that we could view the birds. We were very excited to watch a family of Pied Wagtails feed their young. The eco councillors recorded observations in a daily diary and the rest of the school watched as well in small groups and answered questions about the bird activity. All the information was sent to the B.T.O for their nest records scheme. We then went on to watch, Blackbirds, another family of Wagtails and Collared Doves. Click here to watch a video clip!

School grounds was another theme we spent time developing. In the courtyard the eco councillors grew fruits and vegetables and planted flowers. Click here and here to see what we grew!

The school sensory garden continued to develop. Raised beds were put in to grow vegetables and fruit shrubs were planted. Water butts were installed for watering and compost bins for waste. Huntingdon In Bloom were so impressed when they visited, that they awarded the school 1st prize in the Huntingdon In Bloom Schools catagory and we were awarded a trophy.

Environmental issues were covered in curriculum work. Year 4 children took part in The RHS Great Plant Hunt and Grow Your Own Potatoes scheme. They also designed and made homes for endangered animals as part of their habitats topic. Click to see some of the wild plants we found!

We took part in fund raising events including, Bags 2 School and jewellery re-cycling. We also had an Eco- Schools stall at the schools summer fayre and raised money to buy an acre of rainforest.

We were proud to achieve our Silver award at the end of July! What a year and well done to all the 2008-9 eco councillors!

What's Next!

This academic year we are going for our first green flag. We have already had our first meeting with our new eco councillors. They are very enthusiastic and have already shared some great ideas for our new action plan. Click here to see the latest minutes!

We will keep you up to date with developments!

Mrs Gray-Thomas (Year 4 class teacher)