Competition launched to encourage biodiversity in schools

^{Image credit: Nether Edge School.}

Let's Go Zero, the national campaign for all schools, colleges and nurseries to be zero carbon by 2030, is launching a competition for schools this month to connect their students with nature and inspire them to take climate action.

Run with support from OVO Foundation, the competition aims to give schools the chance to win 10 prizes of £1,000 and 15 prizes of £200 to fund nature-related projects in their schools, with a total of £13,000 for sustainable projects up for grabs.

To apply for one of the prizes, schools simply have to explain how they’d like to bring students closer to nature.

Alex Green, head of Let’s Go Zero, said: “Schools are key places to enact and inspire change in the next generation as well as the wider community, so this competition is a great boost to schools to put their ideas into action.

“We want schools to apply to this competition to help them to connect students to nature, boost biodiversity, create beautiful places for children to play and learn, and kickstart climate action. This is a great opportunity to get everyone working together to make something beautiful and educational, whilst having fun in the process. They’ll also be joining Let’s Go Zero, which offers them a whole range of free support on their zero carbon journey.”

The 2025 OVO Foundation Nature Prize opened on Monday 14 October 2024 and the deadline for applications is Monday 25 November.

Planting vegetables, creating outdoor learning spaces, or building bug hotels are just some of the ways schools can encourage nature in the school grounds, but the possibilities are endless, and schools are encouraged to be as creative as possible in their entries.

Winners will be announced in Feb 2025.