Green youngsters win gold by discovering the great outdoors

Whaddon Church of England First School has been participating in the trust’s Green Tree Schools initiative, which encourages schools to bring the great outdoors into the classroom by discussing wildlife and green issues, and to take learning outside with outdoor projects.

Children at the school managed to achieve the gold award by getting involved in lots of green activities. These included tree planting, visiting a local woodland, reducing carbon emissions and recycling.

The pupils are also lucky to have their very own Forest School area. Here, pupils can learn about the natural world and hone their practical skills. So far, they have mastered fire lighting, den building and whittling.

The Forest School area also provides space for pupils to discover how to identify wildlife and recognise the environments they thrive in. This helps pupils to better understand what is required to create a sustainable habitat for native creatures and plants.

Headteacher Selina Davies said: “We are extremely proud of our children for achieving this award. It illustrates their excellent understanding of the rural environment in which our school is set and their commitment to ensuring its sustainability.”