School grounds that contain a wide range of resources meet not only the needs of science and geography, but also those of other curriculum subjects including mathematics, english, art and music.

We have suggested some simple steps to help pupils, parents, teachers and staff work together to develop and sustain their school grounds and promote their use in all curriculum areas.

School Grounds Projects

Eco Schools – School Grounds Topic Area:

The Eco Schools programme encourages schools to use their school grounds:

As a tool for teaching and learning across the curriculum and whole school community
To create habitats which will enhance the biodiversity of the school grounds
As a place for pupils to gain aesthetic experiences through play and learning
Provide recreational and exercise facilities

Caerphilly in Bloom – School Wildlife Gardens – Category 7a:

The Caerphilly in Bloom competition includes a wildlife garden category, which is sponsored by the Caerphilly Biodiversity Partnership. It promotes the creation of attractive and welcoming school grounds for both wildlife and people, giving schools have the chance to win some fantastic prizes.

The judges look for a variety of features that support wildlife such as nest boxes, bird feeders, hedges, ponds and log piles etc along with a variety of wild plants that will provide food and refuge for wildlife all year round. They also look for the sensitive use of natural resources such as making compost, using peat free products and collecting rainwater.

For more information contact the Biodiversity Officer on ILESM@caerphilly.gov.uk

Schools Wildlife Partnerships:

The schools wildlife partnership is an outdoor learning initiative developed and delivered by the Gwent Wildlife Trust. It has been developed to help Gwent schools meet the outdoor learning elements of the new Foundation Phase in Wales and to encourage young people’s interest in their natural environment.

For more information visit gwentwildlife.org

BBC Breathing Spaces Schools:

Join the BBC Breathing Spaces schools campaign and turn your school into a wildlife haven. Every term they will provide you with a simple do one thing activity for you to enjoy. Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast or absolute beginner, you’ll get all the support and resources you’ll need.

Visit bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/schools to register and get started

Forest schools Scheme:

Forest schools offers children, young people and adult’s regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence in a local woodland environment.

The Forest Education Initiative supports the development of local Forest School Settings (FEI Forest Schools), by offering expertise and advice and access to internal funding as a constituted FEI cluster group.

For more information visit the Forest Education Initiative website foresteducation.org

School Grounds Support & Advice

For support and advice on sustainable school grounds in the Caerphilly County Borough please contact:

Andy Wilkinson, Senior Environmental Education Ranger, CCBC
Tel: 01495 273318, Email: WILKIA@caerphilly.gov.uk

Jon Hole, Chief Ranger, CCBC
Tel: 01495 273318, Email: HOLEJ@caerphilly.gov.uk

Margaret Iles, Biodiversity Officer, CCBC
Tel: 01495 235253, Email: ILESM@caerphilly.gov.uk

David Beveridge, Environmental Awareness Coordinator, CCBC
Tel: 01495 233464, Email: BEVERD@caerphilly.gov.uk

Out to Learn Willow, Claire Revera,
Tel: 01656 880514, Email info@outtolearnwillow.co.uk

Resource Boxes

Check out the resource boxes on the Sustainable Resources page to find out what resource boxes are available to support your school grounds projects in school.

Resources

Schools in Bloom Competition

The Schools in Bloom Competition takes place between April 2009 and September 2009, with the judging for schools taking place from July 1st. Schools can enter Class 5 – Best School or Class 7B – School Wildlife Gardens. The closing date for entries is Friday 26th June 2009.

For more information visit: www.caerphilly.gov.uk/parklife

Free Trees for Schools

Get your hands on this amazing offer from the Woodland Trust. They have 3 kinds of tree packs, free for schools. These are:

Copse pack - 30 native trees to create a small Woodland
Hedge Pack - 30 hedgerow plants, which could screen that ugly fence
Seed to Tree Kits - all the kit you need to grow some trees from seeds

All kits come with instructions and lesson ideas. There’s also some great education resource sheets to be found on the website.

The offer closes a March 2009 so register early as the plants can go in anytime from NOW!

Visit - www.woodland-trust.org.uk/hedge for more details.

Spring Watch in your Classroom!

Caerphilly Countryside Service has 2 bird box cameras to lend for a year to 2 schools in the Caerphilly County Borough. The cameras are installed in a bird box and plugged in to a TV in the classroom. If a pair of birds moves in to the box, children are able to watch nest building, egg laying, hatching, feeding and fledging of the baby birds in the comfort of the classroom. This is a tremendous opportunity and can inspire some wonderful work from the children.

The countryside rangers would spend ½ a day building some bird boxes with the class and position the boxes in the school grounds and install the camera…and it is completely free!

If you are interested in having one put up at your school. Please contact Andy Wilkinson Senior Environmental Education Ranger, CCBC, Tel. 01495 273318.

Email: WILKIA@caerphilly.gov.uk

Big Schools Garden Birdwatch

The Big Schools' Birdwatch is a free activity for schools and youth groups (brownies, scouts etc) throughout the UK, which is run every year in January and February. By observing the birds that visit your school grounds you will be helping the RSPB monitor UK bird numbers. A free teachers activity pack is available. There are also loads of information and resources available to help you carry out this activity with your class.

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch to register on line and receive your free school activity pack.

Fast, easy access to our results submission form

Quick login with your own Big Schools’ Birdwatch PIN
Enter your results in seconds with our whiteboard-compatible form
Make your results submission into a classroom activity

Free activity pack to help you get ready

Colour booklet with comprehensive instructions, hints and tips and curriculum links
A2 colour poster to help you identify the birds visiting your school grounds
Counting charts for all ages and activity sheets for younger children

Access to interactive whiteboard activities

Get hands on with your data by building your own graphs and charts
Download questions to get your class really exploring and interpreting their data

Schools in Bloom Competition

The Schools in Bloom Competition takes place between April 2009 and September 2009, with the judging for schools taking place from July 1st. Schools can enter Class 5 - Best School or Class 7B - School Wildlife Gardens. The closing date for entries is Friday 26th June 2009.

For more information visit:
www.caerphilly.gov.uk/parklife

Case Studies

Lewis School Pengam - eco school silver award (PDF, 197Kb)
Bedwas Junior School - Community Garden (PDF, 103Kb)
St Helens Roman Catholic School - School Grounds (PDF, 195Kb)

Top Tips for sustainable school grounds

Involve as many people as possible in the development of your school grounds
Develop a habitat area and monitor the wildlife in your school grounds
Develop a wildflower meadow – it doesn’t need much maintenance and will encourage lots of wildlife into the school grounds
Provide seating and shelter to give pupils a chance to sit and chat
Develop an outdoor classroom
Develop an outdoor site containing trees, shrubs, flowers, water, light and rocks to explore a variety of topics including sustainable development, biodiversity and weather
Develop tarmac areas by introducing raised beds, hanging baskets and tyre planters – remember there are always ways to improve your school grounds
Reuse items to make unusual features, such as car tyres as planters and plastic milk bottles as bird feeders
Remember to work with the grounds maintenance team to make sure that they don’t destroy your hard work by mistake

Funding

The School Grounds Funding Information (PDF, 64Kb) document will provide you with details of grants, awards and offers available to support your ESDGC project