Rewilding Our Schools
Posted 8th July 2024
As part of Red Kite Learning Trust’s Rewilding Project, children from the eco-committee at Rossett Acre Primary School in Harrogate got out mapping the habitats in their school grounds this month, , using fabulous, free mapping methodology from the National Education Nature Park.
Yorkshire Rewilding Network committee member, Jenny Marks, has been working with schools across the Trust on this project.
"It was fantastic to be out with the children and lead teacher and to witness their enthusiasm and excitement."
Jenny says, "One of the first steps on the rewilding journey is to understand what habitats and wildlife are already at the schools. It was fantastic to be out with the children and lead teacher and to witness their enthusiasm and excitement at taking part, as well as seeing their understanding and knowledge of the natural world growing so quickly."
Informed by the habitat survey, the pupils came up with brilliant ideas for the school grounds, such as leaving the more species-rich grassy areas to grow long, stopping spraying with herbicide, cutting hedges less often, leaving logs to rot and making piles of stones for creatures to hide in, thus fostering the re-establishment of natural processes in the school grounds, and making a lovely environment for children, staff and wildlife.
