What have we done? What are we doing?

Environmental Review Score: 4 out of 6 (Amber) (May 21) ► 5 out of 6 (Green) (Oct 21)

The Eco team recognises that we are really lucky here in our school because we have really large school grounds, with lots of trees and bushes, right on the edge of Astley Park. We have a large field, two large playgrounds and two trim trails (one each for the Infants and the Juniors), a super space for Reception to play and learn outside and areas to grow plants in the planters. There is space for us and for wildlife. We can even have lessons outside in the Outdoor Classroom and on the bench-tables at the bottom of the yard. We usually get the chance to play outside at lunch and break, even if it is raining a bit.

Actions:

- Improve the planting areas (Gardening Club to move and restore the planters and consider a polytunnel so more children can learn about growing and get involved)

- Plant more trees, including fruit trees

- Give each class a plant to look after

- More outdoor lessons (include Forest Schools)

Progress:

- Each class has been given a tomato plant to look after (soon will have a tree each)

- Forest Schools taster session held in Summer 2021

- Trees on order and now delivered (Nov 2021 and Jan 2022)

- Tree planting begun in the orchard with the Mayor of Chorley (Nov 2021)

- Morrisons Grow tokens used to purchase equipment, soil and seeds (Dec 2021)

- Grounds tidy up and planting seeds has begun (Jan 2022)

Outdoor Learning for Reception, Y5 and Y6 (Feb 2022)

Whenever we can, we like our lessons to take place outdoors and not just for PE.

Reception have been on a dinosaur hunt around the school grounds.

Y5 have been working out why people long ago though the world was flat by investigating the horizon and then modelling the solar system out on the playground where there's lots of space - watch their film here.

Y6 enjoyed combining Geography, PE and Maths for NSPCC Numbers Day. They also conducted a fieldwork survey of living things in the school grounds, as part of their work on Classification. You're never too old for a mini-beast hunt!

Gardening Club get ready for Spring (Jan 2022)

We have not fully launched our Gardening Club but David and Oliver have been busy in the school grounds starting to get things ready for Spring. They have dug up the strawberry plants (and their babies), restored the compost heap and planted some early seeds for indoors (tomato, cucumber and aubergine) so we can get a head start. There will be lots more to do as Spring gets further under way!

Morrisons Grow Tokens (Dec 2021)

The Eco team and the Gardening team have completed our order for seeds and gardening equipment, using Morrisons Grow Tokens. Thank you to everyone who donated Good to Grow tokens to our school. We received 2,286 tokens, which ahs allowed us to buy lots of equipment, soil and seeds. 

Queen's Green Canopy and Orchard Trees arrived (Dec 2021 and Jan 2022)

We were delighted to receive our free trees, 20 in total, and we have planted them in pots for the winter. See more here

Spring Bulb planting (Nov 2021)

We have planted lots of spring bulbs around the school grounds, with the the help of the Eco team and our Infant buddies. Thank you to one of our Reception parents, Erin's Mum Jen, for donating them!

Cherry Tree Planting (Nov 2021)

On Tuesday 9th November, the Mayor of Chorley visited what he described as "the greenest school in Chorley" - that's us! Like us, the Mayor is an Eco warrior and believes in all things eco. He even ditched his fancy mayoral car and walked up from the town hall. Together with Mrs Pemberton, our Chair of Governors, he helped the Eco team to plant the first tree in our new orchard, a cherry tree. He was very impressed with the children's knowledge about climate change and our goals of becoming carbon neutral, and he was bowled over by their passion and commitment. We are looking forward to more tree planting in the next few weeks, which will help to improve our school grounds, reduce our carbon footprint and attract more wildlife (biodiversity).

The occasion also marked the COP26 Schools Summit hosted and led by St Laurence Eco Team. Find out more here

Tree Planting (June 2021)

We were delighted to receive a free tree from Chorley Mayor Steve Holgate, who was giving them away to Chorley residents on Chorley Market. We received a silver birch sapling grown by the mayor himself. He told us he's an Eco Warrior too, so he's just like us! We just love his plant pot - a recycled juice carton! 

Forest Schools Taster Sessions (June 2021)

Using our fabulous school grounds to promote outdoor learning and getting close to nature

Chorley Flower Show (June 2021 and July 2021)

We are preparing to enter Chorley Flower Show with our own exhibit. Y6 have been planning the layout and composition with John Everest, an award-winning landscape gardener, and many volunteers have helped to grow and prepare the plants ready for the final show.

Growing our Own Plants in School (April and May 2021)

See Healthy Living Page for more details of the plant projects we have started

Orienteering (April 2021)

Year 4 have enjoyed their first OAA PE session of Orienteering in our extensive school grounds. Lots of team work and communication being used to find each area. The course has been specifically designed for us, using the wide variety of features and areas of interest in our gardens. We love learning outdoors!