Green Jubilee canopy helps Swindon school on its way to becoming carbon neutral

Lawn Manor Academy say it is on its way to its target of becoming a carbon neutral school, with its woodland planting and tree donations to local primary schools.

Guy Henderson, Head of Geography and Forest School leader at Lawn Manor Academy, says the school is taking part in the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, which is part of the celebrations to mark Her Majesty’s Jubilee this year.

The school already has a green woodland area as part of its Forest School, which is a dedicated outdoor learning area that allows children to develop a range of skills that cannot be taught in the classroom.

Now pupils are working on making the area even greener and more sustainable by planting hundreds of native British species including wild cherry, rowans, oaks, hawthorn and silver birch. Staff have also arranged to donate trees to primary schools feeding into Lawn Manor Academy, so that they can carry out their own planting schemes.

Mr Henderson and his Forest School-trained colleagues say they recognise they have set themselves and their pupils a tough challenge in aiming to make the school carbon neutral, but are building on sound foundations. 

Pupils are already encouraged to be active and explore nature working in the school’s outdoor small-scale eco-system, as the school has found research that shows that being outside can help to improve mental health, communication and social relationships.

Throughout the school year, all pupils have access to the Forest School area, both during lessons and at the Lawn Manor Forest School after-school club. Activity in the area ties in with the in-classroom curriculum, with links to geography, science and many other subjects.

The school said it also dedicated work on Earth Day earlier this year to finding ways of cutting energy use and minimising waste. Activities included identifying how small changes in behaviour, such as unplugging phones from the electricity supply as soon as they are charged or leaving corridors and classrooms unlit, could have significant positive impacts to the environment.

Mr Henderson added: “Planting the trees and encouraging primary schools to do the same has been particularly rewarding for the students, and will continue to be. Young people are acutely aware of the potential problems they and future generations face as a result of climate change, and are eager to do their bit to support the planet.

"They are not only creating a wonderful new green canopy but know that long after they have left the school the trees will continue growing and taking even more carbon out of the atmosphere. Climate change is a very pressing issue for us all, and I’m proud that our students are not only engaged in it but are keen to do their bit to help.”