Eco Council - Green Team
Welcome to Knowl Hill Academy's
Eco-Council
Our Mission Statement
'Protect our ecology and make a difference for our future.'
Whole School Eco Projects
Are Plastic still Fantastic?
The Eco-council's new initiative to recycle plastic waste, led by 'The Crisp Packet Project' will see us collecting hundreds of empty crisp packets, melding them together to create warm and waterproof blankets, sleeping bags and washbags for the homeless people living on our streets.
The Big Plastic Count all Wrapped Up
Following 'The Big Plastic Count,' (an initiative in which the the Eco council counted the school's and their own recycled plastics for a week), shared their findings with the campaign to help stop the production of these polluting plastics.
They ran an assembly to talk about the effects of single-use plastics and included some very interesting facts along with a fun quiz (please see photos below).
Our school's Big Plastic Count results are in, showing a huge reduction in plastic waste from our last count in 2022.
Spring Has Sprung
A nesting Blue Tit pair has ten eggs laid in our new bird box.
Bird Box
Our thanks goes to the PTA who have kindly raised enough funds to buy us a camera bird box as well as seeds and feeders. During the winter break Mr Miles set up the bird box designed for smaller song birds such as Wrens and Blue Tits.
The Big Schools' Bird Watch 2024
In conjunction with the Royal Society for the protection of Birds, we have been monitoring the bird activity in our school grounds. Along with counting the daily sightings of different species of birds in our school grounds we have sent off our birdwatch count, taken over an hours observation for the yearly national count run by the RSPB. The findings show population trends and highlight those in decline and at risk.
The Eco-council (2023-24) were concerned about the rubbish left around school, so they have come up with the 'Bin Monster' initiative.
They acted out a play about the problems caused by litter and the untidiness of our school as well as the possible harm it can cause to wildlife- It is everyone's responsibility to dispose of their own rubbish and recycling properly.
Jayden and William put together a power point presentation to emphasise the problem of littering.
Following the assembly there will be monster faces and posters attached to the bins to make tidying more fun.
Please click on the PowerPoint presentation (below.)
'Keep Our Seas, plastic Free' Art Project
This whole school project was planned by our 2021/22 Eco-council (when we started collecting plastic lids and pots.)
Designed and created by the children of Knowl Hill Academy.
Following our Big Plastic Count we wanted to highlight the negative impact single use plastics has on our marine environment.
Ocean plastic pollution eventually enters our food cycle as the plastic breaks down into microscopic pieces that are eaten by plankton and then works its way up the food chain to our dinner plates.
Celebrating National Bee Day
May 20th the children celebrated the humble bee and created a display and power point presentations about their favourite honey producing pollinator, the honey bee.
The Big Plastic Count
Our school joined 'The Big Plastic Count' for a school week (5 days).
Eco councillor (2021/22) Neva, counted the tally sheets from all classrooms, hall and the staff room.
Total plastic items collected and counted...1,807
With 25% of our waste plastics being snack bags, packets and wrappers.
Many of these single use plastics would have been binned, perhaps ending their journey in a landfill site or in our oceans, to then make their way back into our food chain.
School Visitors
Filling Good's Founder Nelly Semaille
Nelly very kindly spoke to our Eco, School and Collective-Worship councillors about the worlds plastic pollution problem and what we can do to help our planet. We also found out lots of interesting and worrying facts about plastic pollution as well as how Nelly has found the perfect solution to help us to help the planet by opening her community shop. As we all want to help preserve our planet for the future.
Filling Good is Maidenhead’s community zero waste store. Not-for-profit and primarily run by volunteers, their purpose is to help people reduce their plastic consumption and waste by refilling their containers instead of throwing away lots of packaging! They are also the first and only carbon negative shop in Maidenhead (and beyond).
Filling Good was founded early in 2019 by Nelly Semaille, previously a finance manager who moved to Maidenhead the same year with her family.
It started out as a pop-up store inside the Craft Coop at the Nicholson Shopping Centre. Opening just two days a week with a limited range of products, it proved to be a good way of meeting hundreds of local people. Nelly connected with several customers who were very keen on taking a more active role in the shop as it grew. From then, a team of volunteers teamed up to bring the project to the next level, and about 100 shareholders locally came together to fund the opening of the shop.
Now open almost 4 years, Filling Good has allowed to save more than 100,000 pieces of packaging, and became carbon negative last year.
The shop is the go-to for your everyday groceries that you want to refill instead of throwing away lots of packaging! You can find all sorts of products on refills, from cleaning products to dry foods, and personal hygiene items, but also a carefully cured selection of eco responsible items and gifts.
We warmly recommend you to go and try to do your bit for the planet! The volunteers will welcome you and help you, and it is cheaper than you think!
https://www.fillinggood.co.uk/
Bat Conservation Trust
The school's councils had a fascinating visit from our very own Rev. Stephen Turville, Mike Buckland and Bat Conservation Trust educator, Charlotte Allchin.
With Mike leading, we began with a fun sing along followed by the bible story of Noah's ark, which took us smoothly into a discussion of the importance of God's Creatures and how we need to protect them all, including wasps.
Charlotte Allchin talked to the children all about bats, with lots of interesting information and facts, including-they are the only true flying mammal, there are over 1,400 species of bats in the world and that bats account for more than a quarter of mammal species in the UK.
The children would like to say a huge Thank You to you all for visiting us- it was great fun!
If you are interested in bats and would like to learn more about protecting them then the Bat Conservation Trust is the best place to start.
If you find a bat in need of rescue or you need information concerning bats contact;
National Bat Helpline 0345 1300 228
Pickles Hedgehogs Rescue
The Eco-council wish to give a huge *Thank You* to Lois of Pickles Hedgehogs Rescue, a very interesting and informative talk full of fun hedgehog facts - we also meet the lovely Diana, a wild Hedgehog being cared for before her release.
Lois works in conjunction with Marlow Hedgehog hub and she told us how she began her hedgehog rescue centre after finding a hoglet in need of care.
Over two years Pickles Hedgehogs has cared for and released 60 hedgehogs.
The British Hedgehog is a fascinating wild animal, native to Britain it's numbers have reduced dramatically over the last ten years and were put on the IUCN 'Red List' as vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain (2020), highlighting the importance of Lois' rescue work.
If you find a hedgehog in need of help (see the poster below), there are many people you can contact;
Pickles hedgehogs - Admin contact - Kirsty Clark via Facebook
Marlow Hedgehog Hub - Admin contact - Phil via Facebook
Pines Vets-Bath Road, Maidenhead
Tiggywinkles 24hr wild animal and bird emergency care
Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue.
Eco Actions
The Eco-Council are the voice of all our pupils and they have many fantastic ideas to help our schools local wildlife and environment.
Planting Fruit Seeds
We've planted our rather slimy pumpkin seeds taken from a fresh pumpkin. They're safe from the squirrels' growing in our beautiful new greenhouse generously donated to the Eco-council.
A huge Thank you goes to Mrs McCulley, for your generous gift.
Replanting our Hedgerows/Animal Highways
The Eco-council have been planting hazel nuts, chestnuts and walnuts along with sycamore seeds that we found locally to improve our hedgerows. We discussed the importance of hedgerows as a safe haven for animals to escape to from open farmland, they also create habitat corridors linking woodlands allowing safe movement for animals and nesting for birds. We need to create the perfect habitat for the smaller creatures and bugs of the food chain to encourage birds and larger mammals, such as hedgehogs, badgers and foxes this will help improve the ecology of the schools tree-line.
Fat Ball Feeders
The Eco-council have made fat balls to feed the wintering birds. It is important that we care for our wildlife and encouraging the birds, by giving them a close food source will ensure our new bird box will be used (our fingers are crossed).
Planting
The Eco- council planting out our beautiful donated roses.
During the new Eco-councils first meeting (2023-24) they discussed plans and made bird feeders with fresh apples and sunflower seeds.
Can you spot them in the playground?
Eco Council 2023-2024
Potatoes and wild flowers
Grow-your-own-potatoes have kindly sent us seed potatoes to grow in our school.
Seven seed potatoes have been successfully chitted (forcing the seed potatoes to grow) before planting them outside.
The Eco team also re-sowed the bug hotel's green roof with wild flower seeds as well as sowing seeds in our upcycled welly boots with Lemon Balm, Crocosmia, Basil and Sunflowers. Now we will water them and watch them bloom.
Sprucing-up our playground's flower pots
Mr Miles' gardening lesson
The eco council were given a lesson on planting-up when Mr Miles delivered beautiful plants for our playground's planters. We promise we'll water them regularly.
Thank you Mr Miles for a fun and messy life lesson.
Mammal Footprint trap
The 2021/22 Eco-council's upper years investigated which mammals inhabited the school grounds. By laying ink traps we captured a large quantity of footprint movement and believe them to be from field mice and brown rats.
Sweet Pea Teepee update
The seeds were sown and the children planted-out the sweet peas against the teepee wooden frame, we hoped to have a peaceful, sweet smelling spot to relax in- Sadly, the naughty rabbits and other mammals ate the sweet peas and sunflowers over the summer holidays-we'll protect them while they grow next time.
The Big Bug Hotel Build
The first action of 2021/22 Eco-Council was to build a bug hotel using recycled materials, to encourage more wildlife into our school grounds - to support our local ecology.
We send our thanks to the parents of Knowl Hill who generously gave us the materials to help achieve their first project.
Using all recycled materials (including bug safe pallets).
Foundation pillars were dug and filled, ground floor laid, Floors 1-7 fitted and filled, chicken wire attached, roofing membrane laid and large logs positioned, seeds sown for the living roof -to attract butterflies and other insects.
The Eco Council want to make a difference and so can you!
By starting with small changes within our school (and at home), we can all do something to improve and protect our planet - it will make a huge difference for our future.
Litter Pick
Eco council member (2021/22) Hattie, with older sister Fearn on a litter pick.
Fantastic work girls!
It is very important to pick-up litter, not only does it make the area look fabulous, but we are also protecting vulnerable animals from becoming trapped or poisoned.
Sharing Eco Ideas
A Powerful Eco Message, Poster Art - Maisie (year 3)
Sharing Eco Facts
Eco council member (2021/22) Olivia, found some interesting Eco facts.
The Eco-council members
Year 6 - Jayden & William
Year 5 - Jamie & Willow
Year 4 - Elliot & William
Year 3 - Leah & Maggie
Year 2 - Billy
Year 1 - Autumn
Eco-Council Coordinator
Ms Butler
Eco Inspiration
Interested in becoming involved with local wildlife projects?
Wild Maidenhead
Is a great place to start!
The group brings together residents who have an interest in nature and wildlife and acts as a hub for a wide range of local organisations with specific local or species interests in a support role, for exchanging information, gathering data and sharing knowledge and experience.
The group runs events and projects to educate, inform, enthuse and engage.
Wild Maidenhead also hold events at Braywick Nature Centre, Hibbert Rd, Maidenhead SL6 1UU, UK -It's also a lovely place to visit.
Deerswood Toad Patrol
An annual community event based around Summerleaze lake, they aim to assist toads across the roads during their journey to and from the lake.
If you live nearby you can offer your time to save toads, frogs and newts.
Active breeding time is early spring-contact them to join in the yearly rescue.
Deerswood Toad Patrol have a facebook presence.
If you wish to join them, please follow the below link and click on the Facebook page.
Looking for more information on climate change?
The Earthshot Awards
The Earthshot Awards were launched in 2021 by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and David Attenborough.
Follow the link below to find out how people around the world are helping to make a difference to climate change in 2024.
What is COP29?
The United Nations Climate Change Conference is a meeting of world leaders who discuss how to tackle climate change. COP29 of 2024, will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Cop28 UN Climate Change conference (November 2023) was held in the United Arab Emirates.
Please follow the link below to find out more of last years conference.
COP 27- Youth march in Stroud
Why did the young people of Stroud march during COP 27 climate summit?
Click on the link below to find out why!
Who is Greta Thunberg?
Greta Thunberg is an environmental activist, who holds world leaders accountable, but why is she so important to climate change?
To find out more please click on the link below.