School Grounds and Nature Recovery

Nature on school grounds offers a fantastic resource and opportunity for learning, food growing and healthy eating while improving health & well being

Trees

Trees enable creative education and connect children to nature, support mental health and well being. You school could be eligible for free trees on your school grounds and support with volunteer planting, please contact environment@essex.gov for more information.

🌳RESOURCES: TCV | The Conservation Volunteers offers free trees. and Trees for Schools | Trees for Cities offer engaged support.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy

The Essex Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) maps the location and health of species and habitats across Essex, and identifies actions to protect and restore them. See where opportunities are on your school grounds to connect wildlife corridors and help reverse biodiversity decline. The LNRS has completed it's consultation phase, and due to be published shortly.

Food Growing

For more detailed information on the School Gardens please consult Section 6. Outdoor Space of the Schools Advice Pack pg 48-49

🪱RESOURCES: Get composting offers 50% off the price of compost bins for your school. If you're new to composting, sign up for online training here: Get Growing in Schools - gardenorganic

Other support available:

Essex Wildlife Trust works with schools, offering pupils and staff a series of workshops that assess the school site for wildlife, design habitat improvement and plant-up areas. They also offer habitat rejuvenation in existing areas including willow structures, orchards, ponds, invertebrate habitats, hedgerows, wildflower meadows, sensory gardens, bug hotels and nectar borders. The also provide a FREE management plant to enable you to look after any improvements.  https://www.essexwt.org.uk/learn-play/schools-colleges/grounds-development

The Lets Go Zero campaign offers a free visitation to schools by climate advisors who provide advice on all things sustainable including climate and biodiversity - https://letsgozero.org/climate-action-advisors/

Local School Nature Grants - Learning through Landscapes (until April 4^th) offer outdoor training for your staff, webinars, a Climate Curriculum Kit (valued at £150) and £500 of outdoor equipment chosen from a catalogue of over 100 items

 

Grant funding:

Your Local Councillor may have a small pot of funding – worth reach out too - Your councillor: Member Local Funds | Essex County Council

National Education Nature Park lists charity, corporate and government schemes for biodiversity and outdoor learning improvements https://www.educationnaturepark.org.uk/finding-funding

Various websites already compile resources and a list of available grants for environment projects on schools grounds, notably RHS, A&S Landscape and Groundwork: https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/community-gardening/resources/fundraising https://www.aandslandscape.co.uk/school-grants/

https://www.groundwork.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/

Was this page useful?

Give feedback about this page (opens in a new window)