Eco News

Last Friday, the whole of the Senior School attended an informed and positive assembly about the work of the Eco Council hosted by Sage L (U6). Sage explained the inception and rapid rise of King’s Eco Council and the improvements voted on by the Whole School Council in 2023, many of which have already been enacted and delivered:-

• An Eco Council has been formed, which will become ‘Whole School’ in 2025.
• A Young Environmentalist Award has been introduced on Speech Day.
• We organised a Green Day to raise awareness.
• Trees have been planted on The Alps.
• We achieved the Eco Schools Award (with distinction!), a nationally recognised endeavour.

When it comes to the often bleak environmental news we are faced with (or chose to ignore) daily, Sage gave a pleasingly positive angle to raise awareness of what the school is doing to improve, such as the solar panels on the swimming pool, whilst also clarifying that we are only just getting going!

Another goal of Sage’s assembly was to show that proactive change was not only possible, but actually happening thanks to this group of young people. Next, we are hoping to have an audience with Governor Wayne Smith and the apiary of bees at Satis House. Our targets for 2025 are to have and help with more visible recycling points in Main School Yard and around the school, as well meet with the Head of Estates to see which other initiatives are achievable. For more information, pupils can come to D&T every Tuesday break or ask Mr Rivers to be added to the Eco Council group on Google Classroom, or check out the link on the KSR Springboard.

The Pre-Prep Eco Council also met this week. They split into 3 groups. The first group tidied up the playground allotments and found many worms busy recycling the nutrients back into the soil from all the dead plants and animals. These busy decomposers reassured pupils that the soil is rich in nutrients and this should help the edible plants grow well later on in Spring. The second group discussed improvements to the King’s Wild Garden. There are now many rotten logs around the Bug Hotel to attract decomposers, and wild flowers will also be added to attract minibeasts (particularly insects) which are important pollinators. Pollinators need us to care for them as most of the food we eat relies on pollination. The group got to work designing a path around the wild garden using flat logs for the Pre-Prep to enjoy. The third group did a super job litter picking and protecting the local environment. Unfortunately plastic does not decompose so animals and plants need us to pick up litter to protect them and keep the environment safe and tidy. Well done Pre-Prep Eco Council – you are making a huge difference protecting our environment and keeping us safe.