High School eco enthusiasts transform disused area into a productive garden and wildlife haven

A high school’s growing eco club is getting closer to achieving an award thanks to a number of innovative projects the students have been working on. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flint High School’s eco club is going from strength to strength and now has 15 dedicated members ranging from year 7 through to year 10.  The students began the club in March with the objective of achieving the Green Flag Eco-School Award and they are already well on the way to realising that goal. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Initially, the students carried out an audit of the school to assess which aspects of their environment they could improve.  From this, it was clear that a neglected area of the school known as the ‘quad’ would be an ideal place to start.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

After noticing that too many plastic bottles were being thrown in the bins, the students came up with the idea of reusing them to create their own greenhouse.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

To get this ambitious project underway, the students have organised plastic bottle recycling points across school to collect as many bottles as possible, and they have been collaborating with a year 11 GCSE design and technology student to come up with the design.  The students are hoping to develop a model over the coming weeks with a view to starting the build after half term. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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Last term, the students applied for a food garden package from Keep Wales Tidy and they were excited to hear on their return to school this month that their bid had been successful.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The students received a delivery of plants, raised beds, hanging baskets, bird houses, gardening equipment and books last week, and Wendy Jones, the project officer at Keep Wales Tidy, made a visit to the school to help the students install the equipment.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The eco club meets every Wednesday lunchtime and after school for the students to discuss points of focus for the week and dedicate duties between themselves.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Lucy Williams, geography teacher, has been working with the students.  She said: “The eco club students are a dedicated team who I am extremely proud of.  Each week they amaze me with their enthusiasm and ideas.    ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The students loved constructing their food garden and finding out about the different types of plants.  I know they will nurture this area, and I am looking forward to seeing the greenhouse project come to fruition.”  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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