ECO Champions

ECO REPORT - Autumn Term 2024

Northwest Sustainability Learning Conference, 27.6.24 at Blackburn Rovers FC

• 2 teams (12 students) attended this event.  The first part of the day was a “Marketplace” where the students went round various business and charity stalls specialising in eco matters and had the opportunity to explore, ask questions and receive some “goodies”.  Following lunch, the students excelled in the STEM Challenge competition which was overseeing a project of decarbonisation and 'greening' in a fictional town culminating in a pitch of their project ideas to the competition judges.  The "Green Machines" team were commended for their "Amazing Social Value Initiative" element of the project and the "No Ties MC" team won the overall competition and a cash prize for the school.  
• The money won has been set aside to purchase fruit trees for planting in our orchard in the eco garden so as to offset our carbon footprint of the minibus journeys to and from the event thereby rendering it a carbon-neutral trip.

Tree planting c. Nov 24

• A further 420 free trees (saplings) were ordered from The Woodland Trust for planting this year and will be delivered in early November.  Science, Geography and RE have been invited to take part in the planting of these trees and are working on adapting the planting of these saplings into their specific curriculum areas at the relevant times of the year.  
• In addition, Helen Earnshaw, Trees Action Officer from the Prospects Foundation will be coming to school on 15.10.24 for a site visit before starting a separate tree planting venture with the Foundation and her expertise and guidance will be extremely helpful in planning all our planting.
• We are proud of our efforts in school to improve air quality, reduce carbon and improve biodiversity having planted, what will be, over 1300 trees in the last 3 years.  They will also be wonderful visually.  

Pond project

• Further work took place on the pond area over the summer holidays when the sides of the pond were straightened and reinforced with recycled timber joists which were then back filled with soil.  This will make the pond more secure and defined and will lead to complimentary planting and erecting of a bridge/platform across it to allow easier access for students using the pond during science lessons (pond dipping etc)

Litter picking

• Daily litter picking efforts continue at breaktime and lunchtime when MBR can engage and discuss the problems with litter and encourage a more positive and thoughtful attitude to this problem.  In addition to the KS3 volunteers, we also have the use of 2 school prefects a day which really helps to set the right example to volunteers and students choosing to litter.  Litter was noticeably worse at break times in the first week of term, but the constant and positive presence of volunteer litter pickers has seen this greatly improve.  Still more work to be done however!

Priorities for 2024-2025 

The eco council are currently working on and finalising the key priorities for this year, but these will include:

• To encourage new year 7 students to participate in eco group activities
• To continue litter picking around school
• Eco Champions Day – theme tbc
• Investigate and seek to secure further funding for eco projects such as solar panel installation, tree planting projects etc.
• Increase eco links in department lessons and curriculum (and SEND)
• Encourage greater use of outdoor spaces in curriculum lessons (not just practical lessons)
• To continue seeking to reduce our carbon footprint in school – e.g. travel to school – step 1 carry out a travel to school audit for all pupils and staff; step 2 launch an educational campaign to highlight the problems with carbon based travel and suggesting alternatives; step 3 launch a publicity campaign on the issue (e.g. a sponsored walk/cycle/car share to school day); step 4 carry out a further audit later in the year to measure impact and understanding  

MBR, 30.9.24

Summer term 2023 ECO update from Mr Blair and Miss Jenkinson

World Environment Day and World Oceans Day 2023 were acknowledged with a video message from a group of our ECO club members. This was shown to pupils in all year groups during form time. Here is a link to the video https://vimeo.com/833588537

A new bigger pigeon loft has been received and erected by our site team. This provides much more scope for nesting, young chicks and access for the pupils. Racing will commence in second half term following the training of birds to home to the new loft. 

The outdoor planting and tending programme has started now that the weather has improved.

The new pond will be dug soon.

A tree planting ceremony for the Coronation took place along with a tree for the new year 7 cohort this year (going forward a tree will be planted for every new year group). We now have a small fruit orchard of 7 trees.

We are finalising pupil led classroom energy audits so that a pilot can run in the second half term. This will officially start in September.  

A charity rough sleep out is planned for second half term – approx 6-8 pupils.

A group of 6 pupils will be attending the 'Sustainability Learning Conference NW' at Ewood Park later in June.

Spring term 2023 ECO update from Mr Blair and Miss Jenkinson

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch - in conjunction with the group of pupils and staff doing the Science and Biology Challenge, we completed an audit of the birds on our patch of school ground for 1 hour after school recording the type and number of birds seen for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2023 and sending the details off to help with the national audit. The outdoor trail web cams were also set up.  
Integrate Preston & Chorley Ltd a charity dealing in reclaimed wood and providing employment for adults with special educational needs donated a wonderful bird table. They also provided posts for some temporary bird feeders for the bird watch. We thank them very much for these items and look forward to working with them on projects in the future.  

The pond project in the ECO garden will be starting after half term and an army of helpers with diggers and spades will be needed.  

The 'Laudato Si Champions' programme continues during the Eco club on Wednesday lunchtimes led by Miss Jenkinson.

We are planning on holding a charity 'Rough Sleep Out to Live in Solidarity with the Poor' hopefully later in the half term towards the Easter break when it is warmer. 

The ECO Champions Day for partner primary schools and the Mount Carmel ECO team will take place in March.

A new, bigger pigeon loft is being installed which will provide more space for the growing number of birds and will provide nesting boxes for the birds (they have already started laying eggs) and will provide an aviary for the birds to get some fresh air and for pupils to view them more easily. We are preparing for the pigeon racing season which starts in late March.