June Newsletter!
Hello and welcome to the Eco-Schools June Newsletter! We hope you had a fantastic half-term and bank holiday weekend!
Don’t forget, the Eco-Schools Green Flag application window is now open until 31st July. The Eco-Schools team have been incredibly inspired by the quality of applications submitted so far, thank you all! It truly is a privilege to read about and recognise your amazing Eco-Schools work.
If you are having trouble submitting your application please follow these two simple steps:
- Ensure every textbox in the Seven Step sections contains an answer, as our system will not allow you to mark a section of your application as ‘Done’ unless every answer box has text in – even if the text is just ‘N/A,’ make sure to add something!
- Even if you are not applying for a Merit or Distinction Award, you will need to mark the bonus sections as ‘Done’ otherwise you will be unable to submit your application. Bonus sections can be marked as ‘Done’ without completing any questions – simply click on the section, scroll to the bottom and hit ‘Done.’
You can read more FAQs by clicking the link below and good luck!
There is Still Time to Join the Big Battery Hunt 2022!
Have you registered for the Big Battery Hunt yet? There is still time to receive your free collection boxes and inspire your pupils to recycle their used batteries!
Head to www.bigbatteryhunt.co.uk to register for access to your free resources on recycling. There is even an engagement pack to get your whole community involved. Each school that adds their battery count to the website by 24th June will be entered into a free prize draw and could win £4,000 of playground equipment, school’s vouchers, Nintendo Switches and more!
But if that’s not enough, participation in the Big Battery Hunt can be used as evidence towards your Eco-Schools Green Flag Award! Check out how to get involved with an Eco-Schools twist by downloading our short guide now. With everything you need to run a successful school recycling campaign, register today and start making a difference.
The LEAF Application Window is Now Open!
To all our schools who are using their great Eco-Schools work to also apply for a LEAF Award, the window is now OPEN for applications. Applications can be completed on the LEAF webpage by clicking here!
The application window is open until July 31 so you have plenty of time to submit your evidence.
Keep an eye out for upcoming news on next year’s programme. From September, LEAF will relaunch in a new format and with new activities, designed to get pupils active outdoors and embrace the nature on their doorstep. And, of course, LEAF work will once again support Eco-Schools applications. Watch this space!
Your Impacts… So far!
Lordship Farm – Funding Eco-Actions
One of the biggest challenges facing many Eco-Committees is funding their Eco-Schools work, but at Eco-Schools we know that becoming more sustainable doesn’t have to cost the Earth! With a little imagination there are plenty of ways to fund Eco-Schools work and source free items – the Eco-Committee at Lordship Farm are experts in this regard, so we’ve asked them to share their experiences and hopefully provide a little inspiration!
When creating their Action Plan, the Eco-Committee at Lordship Farm decided they would like to increase Biodiversity in their school grounds. Soon after making this decision, they discovered plants and trees can be pretty expensive… without a proper eco-budget they would have think outside the box.
First they applied for 160 free saplings from the Woodland Trust, their application was successful and these have now been planted! Next they wrote to the green spaces team in their local council, receiving six free trees for their school field. Parents of Eco-Committee members then got involved reaching out to local supermarkets – Morrisons were kind enough to donate more free plants! The Eco-Committee also advertised in the school newsletter, asking for more plant donations from their school community, this resulted in 20 outdoor and 10 indoor plants being donated. Next the Eco-Coordinator took action, receiving 2 water butts, bird feeders and boxes, plants, trees, a pond, fencing, pallets and wood to build planters all through joining local Trash Nothing, Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace groups… but the Eco-Committee also needed support to set up their Biodiversity garden. They decided to organise a school garden party, inviting all pupils and parents to school on a Saturday to help clear, plant and improve their outdoor spaces – the event was a massive success!
Most recently, the Eco-Committee were delighted to learn that their application to the Tesco Community Grant Scheme has been a success. They have applied for £1,500 for help with a school fruit and vegetable garden. Any money received will be used to buy a greenhouse, raised planters, seeds, compost, gardening tools and plants! Whilst the Eco-Committee are currently awaiting the results of the community vote, they are guaranteed to receive at least £500!
