At STC, we have a dedicated team of eco leaders. This past year, we have successfully maintained an Eco Schools Green Flag with Distinction award. Our targeted areas to work on this year included: school grounds, litter and water. As part of our work on these areas, we have completed worked alongside PGL to rejuvenate one of our garden areas, planted 5 new fruit trees, installed an additional water butt (we now have 3) as well as water saving taps in the staff toilets.

Alongside these areas, we have also continued to improve our biodiversity through the use of bird feeders, a large bug house, the creation of a wildflower bed and extended our stumpery. We also have a hedgehog house but as yet we have not had any take up residence. The children continue to work hard to maintain our Zen garden area, which aims to provide children and staff with a quiet place inside the busy school grounds to be still, relax and find time to enjoy calmness. Our pupils take real pride in our school grounds and can often be seen weeding, tidying or watering during their lunchtimes.

As well as regular book swaps, our eco team also organised and ran a very popular and successful uniform swap.

One of our largest Eco projects to date has been our work on the River Wye Project. Thanks to the support of Mrs. Sarah Watkins, a group of children have worked alongside eco groups within Hereford to create stories of change films linked to the need to save the River Wye. They have also spoken with councillors and local businesses as well as appeared on both BBC Countryfile and Newsround. We are incredibly proud of the work they have done on this topic.

We continue to support Hereford Recycling and Reuse group through the collection of various items including pens and soft plastics and we have also joined a recycle to read scheme involving the collection of used batteries. We have already recycled 2 large boxes full of batteries.

Several year groups have completed Bikeability or scooter skills training and other classes have received road safety talks. We also took part in National campaigns such as The Big Walk and Wheel to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and travel to school using their own energy instead. We also try to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible by walking to places for school visits whenever possible.

We enjoy using the fabulous grounds that we are fortunate to have whenever we can, not only for playing in nearly all weathers, but also for cross curricular activities such as art, maths, R.E, Forest school and science.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any ideas you think could be useful or if you would like more information about any of the activities we have completed.