The Wilderness Foundation UK, based at Chatham Green, has partnered with a number of local schools to deliver a series of four-week Climate Action programmes for students across Essex.
Now in its fifth year, the expanded Wild Schools programme launched this year with Year 5 and Year 6 pupils from Writtle Junior School, Great Waltham C of E (VC) Primary School and Trinity St Mary’s Primary School in Chelmsford as well as Montgomery Primary School in Colchester. A number of other schools across the county have also signed up to take part.
Environmental Education specialists from the charity have been visiting classrooms to deliver a series of interactive presentations and workshops exploring the natural world, climate change, and sustainability. Through these sessions, pupils are encouraged to think about their relationship with nature and the practical actions they can take to protect the environment.
Funding from a corporate donor has enabled the Wilderness Foundation to work with multiple classes, and the young participants demonstrated an impressive awareness and understanding of environmental issues.
At the beginning and end of the programme, pupils were asked to score their agreement with three statements measuring environmental awareness:
• “I understand what climate change is.”
• “It is important to look after the environment.”
• “I know what I can do to look after the environment.”
Students rated their response on a scale from one to five, ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree.
Results showed clear progress across all indicators. The most significant improvement was seen in students’ understanding of climate change, which increased with almost every pupil rating themselves at the highest level by the end.
As part of the programme, students also reflected on why nature matters to them personally. Their responses showed a strong appreciation not only of nature’s role in sustaining life, but also of its importance for wellbeing.
During the fourth week of the workshops, the classes were brought together to generate three ideas to present to their peers. These included;
• Creating more wild space in their school and making a map to show where grass and wildflowers could be left to grow as part of No Mow May.
• Anti Fossil Fuels Day – including a walk to school initiative and further review into ways that schools can reduce their environmental footprint.
• Global Weirding Petition to gather more support from staff and students to support taking steps for our planet.
Children are now encouraged to build these ideas into projects at the end of the Wild Schools programme, leaving a lasting legacy among the students.
Pupils’ confidence in knowing what actions they could take to help the environment has increased significantly, rising particularly with pupils identifying reducing their own food waste, walking and cycling to school and regifting unwanted clothes as actions they could take.
Terri Dawson, Education Manager at the Wilderness Foundation UK and delivering the programme said: “I am thrilled to be working with so many inspiring young people on the Wild Schools programme. The children have shown such a strong connection and appreciation of the natural world. I take great confidence in the future from talking to these young people about why it is important that we take care of nature, the challenges posed by climate change and what we can all do together to make a difference.”
Rosie Ellis, Year 5 Class Teacher at Great Waltham Primary School said:
“My Year 5 class were incredibly lucky to have taken part in the Wild Schools project, which taught them all about their environment, the joy of nature, and how they can help to protect the planet. It was an immersive experience where the pupils were encouraged to engage in thoughtful discussions about their world and what nature means to them – as well as hands-on, fun activities to keep them moving!
They then used what they had learned to perform a class assembly, sharing their experiences with the whole school and their parents, spreading both awareness and their passion for the environment. They continue to bring up what they learned during these sessions in our lessons, and it brings me so much joy knowing the project had such a positive impact on them!
I highly recommend any school jump at the opportunity to experience what the Wilderness Foundation has to offer!”
