Boothroyd Infant and Junior School Project

Earlier this year Boothroyd Junior and Infants School entered into the David Bellamy Awards Scheme. The award challenges pupils to keep the environment that they live in cleaner and healthier, promoting social responsibility and communication skills. By encouraging children to take part in the award scheme Mr Bellamy feels that "It sows the seeds of a real sense of responsibility for the future."

Although Boothroyd did not win the competition it was selected as one of the final seven throughout the whole country!

The In Bloom Team have invited the school to represent Dewsbury in the Yorkshire In Bloom competition so that they can encourage and show others how to look after the environment and develop a love of horticulture and nature.

Boothroyd School have several projects ongoing at the moment. These are:

The Woodland Area

This area has been developed out of an area of unused banking into a natural woodland with pathways. The area has a story circle for teaching and is also used by the children for sketching and bird watching. They have made several bird nesting boxes and "friendly scarecrows" from which the birds can take nesting materials. They were able to create this area with the help of The Big Lottery Fund.

The Pond Area

The pond area has just been established to create a natural feature where the children can learn about pond life. 180 children were involved implanting the hedgerow which surrounds the area. They have plans to turn part of the area into a wildflower meadow and they have created a "log pile" as a haven for insects and creepy crawlies! The hard landscaping of this area was tackled for the children by the charity Ponds for People.

The Planting and Growing Area

This area, subject to funding being achieved, will be an area of growing boxes in which the children can grow fruit and vegetables. The plan is to surround the area with an orchard of fruit trees. The children will be involved in growing and harvesting the produce.

The Forest Schools Area

This has been developed by the foundation stage teachers as an area to give children experience of outdoor life skills and to teach them about the environment. The area includes a bog garden, a willow sculpture, a "forest" of planted saplings and tyres planted with vegetables.

The Quad

In the quad the children learn about composting, planting and weeding. They have their own potting shed, feed the birds, have created a "bird hide" from which to recognise different species of birds. They have also planted shrubs to attract butterflies.

Here the children have planted the hanging baskets that are displayed around the school. The children have formed their own watering crew who take it in turns to water the hanging baskets and other plants in the school.

As well as this there are children who have been made responsible for recycling fruit waste, pencil sharpenings and chippings into the compost bin. Other children look after the recycling of paper and making sure that all of the taps are fully turned off to conserve water.

On a Friday they have their Kids In the Environment Club which one child from each class can attend to learn about planting, digging and weeding. They also make their friendly scarecrows during this time.