8,000 Surrey School-children Have Pledged to Save Water and Wildlife

Published on: 24 Mar, 2020
Updated on: 24 Mar, 2020

Investigating pond-life is educational.

More than 8,000 school-children aged five to 11 have to save water and create space for wildlife after Surrey Wildlife Trust visited 35 schools in the county promoting a programme asking the children to help an otter whose river is polluted and running low.

The joint initiative, funded by Affinity Water, was to deepen environmental learning. Surrey Wildlife Trust’s educational reserves, Bay Pond and Nower Wood, sow the seeds of nature-based learning on school trips. But, it is only by repeat immersion at school, with practical work, wildlife gardening and lessons outdoors that environmental learning is consolidated.

Bucket ponds, can provide food, water and shelter for a diverse range of creatures…

Affinity Water’s education team was keen to get involved to help children understand that looking after the environment also helps protect all of our water sources.
From March 2019 till March 2020, the trust visited schools in Guildford, Godstone, Dorking, Ewell and other schools that made trips to Nower Wood or Bay Pond education reserves.

Lizzie Foster, education officer at Surrey Wildlife Trust, the key primary school assemblies and advised staff, school council and eco clubs on how to encourage wildlife to their school grounds and make the most of outdoor learning.

…and larger ponds have been constructed at some schools

Ms Foster said: “The best thing was seeing the excitement on the children’s faces when they remembered their school trip to our reserves. The children were so enthusiastic about the wildlife they saw and wanted to take care of it by looking after the environment, rivers and saving water.

“While some schools have lots of funding or time and others don’t, most schools felt they could improve their grounds for wildlife and outdoor learning. Now schools are closed families can also do this at home to continue their learning.”

Unused flower beds could grow pollen and nectar-rich flowers for butterflies and bees.

There are small changes every school or home garden can make. Unused flower beds could grow pollen and nectar-rich flowers for butterflies and bees. Herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme, coriander, chives and mint could create a sensory garden and provide a fabulous resource for science lessons outside as well as tasty additions to meals.

The trust also suggested creating bird, bat, bug and hedgehog houses in design and technology projects. Even creating a log-pile and compost heap creates a variety of microhabitats for insects, bugs and small mammals.

A compost heap can be the perfect home for some wildlife

Managing abandoned ponds or creating new ones, small bucket ponds, can provide food, water and shelter for a diverse range of creatures and they are fascinating habitats to observe wildlife. Water butts are also a valuable resource for topping up ponds and harvesting rainwater for watering vegetable plots and flower beds.

And this is a rather upmarket residence for bugs

Affinity Water was keen to raise awareness of water use, what happens if it is taken for granted and the problems that arise from increased demand for water. Children were shown simple steps to save water and help improve water quality in their local rivers.

Hannah Battram, education services manager at Affinity Water, said: “It’s been fantastic to work with Surrey Wildlife Trust and help empower local children to protect their environment.

“There are so many simple things that we can all do, from putting our rubbish in the bin, turning the taps off when we brush our teeth and taking shorter showers to making the areas around us more wildlife-friendly. It’s been great to see the children leading the way with the environmental pledges and changes they have been making.”

For more information about:

How to improve your own garden for nature, please check www.surreywildlifetrust.org and its Facebook page;
Outdoor learning at Surrey Wildlife Trust education reserves from July 1, visit www.surreywildlifetrust.org, call 01372 379509 or email education.centres@surreywt.org.uk; and
Affinity Water online education resources visit www.affinitywater.co.uk/education