The OVO Foundation Nature Prize

Students decided to split the money between two projects: planting native species in raised beds and creating wildlife friendly habitats across the school site. After learning about the importance of plant diversity, the students came up with the idea to clear out their raised beds that were full of invasive species and replant them with native English herbs to be used in school cooking lessons. Another benefit of using native species is that the plants are hardier and are better able to survive over the school holidays.  

St. Leonard’s is also part of the Devon and Cornwall Schools Sustainability Network, in which every term, schools take turns to set challenges for others in the network. Around the time of winning the competition, the challenge was to increase biodiversity on the school site, so the students chose to spend the rest of their Nature Prize money on bird boxes, bird baths and insect hotels to tie in with the challenge.  

Now the raised beds are up and running, students have started using them as part of various curriculum projects, from year two’s food and nutrition course, to the year sixes who design their own menus. The school hopes to further develop the kitchen garden and are looking to get a polytunnel so they can start producing their own fruit and veg. 

Both projects have also contributed to the school’s wider social, emotional and mental health provision, an unplanned side effect of the prize. The garden has become a space where students who might be struggling can go to regulate or chat to an adult in a less formal environment. The new outdoor spaces have also been welcomed by parents and staff, with a celebratory launch event planned for Spring.  

Getting to this point has been a learning curve for both staff and students at St. Leonard’s. To begin with, only year six students were involved with the eco-projects, but staff found they became distracted with exams and secondary school decisions in the latter half of the year. Going forwards, they are involving students from across all year groups, which has helped to embed eco-work into the fabric of the school.  

For other schools looking to get students outside and improve onsite biodiversity, staff recommend tying outdoor projects, such as herb or veg growing, in with the national curriculum as there will then be guaranteed time for it. Working with other schools as part of a network has also helped to motivate students and inspire the types of projects they want to pursue.