Schools awarded funding for nature-boosting projects

^{Photo credit: St Peter-in-Thanet CE Junior School / Let's Go Zero}

Twenty-five schools across the UK have won funding to boost nature projects on their grounds.

The zero carbon schools campaign, Let’s Go Zero, and OVO Foundation, have awarded cash prizes of up to £1,000 for projects boosting home-grown food and biodiversity, that encourage community collaboration, and promote outdoor learning.

From grow-your-own food banks to food-waste wormeries, these projects will create inclusive, green, and safe learning environments where our children thrive.

Alex Green, Head of the Let’s Go Zero Campaign, said that “schools lack in support to tackle the climate crisis" and added that the competition will bring communities together and "spark action beyond the school gates.”

The OVO Foundation, a charity dedicated to working towards zero carbon living, and Let’s Go Zero partnership supports UK schools in fostering a passion for nature.

It means less advantaged children and whole communities are involved with schools as a hub for climate action, and are encouraged to understand environmental change.

Hannah Howard, head of OVO Foundation said: “The OVO Foundation Nature Prize increases vital access to nature for students across the UK, particularly those from underserved communities."

She said these nature projects will create opportunities for outdoor learning, improve local biodiversity, and help children to connect with nature.

Carbon emissions from English schools are currently estimated at 8.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. These emissions are projected to reduce by less than 20 per cent over the period to 2050, which is insufficient to play a leading role in reducing schools’ impact on dangerous climate change.

One of the projects to win the highest prize of £1,000 is a multi-sensory forest school in Bristol. It was created by Oasis Academy John Williams which will use the funding to build the outdoor, multi-sensory site for Special Education Needs and Disabilities students to take part in forest school activities and learn more about the science behind food growing.

Other projects include rewilding a school site in Suffolk, a grow-you-own food bank to increase the volume and variety of food grown onsite, and a food-waste wormery.

In 2022, OVO Foundation launched its Climate Changers programme. Through this partnership 75 schools will be awarded the OVO Foundation Nature Prize over three years, which gives them a cash prize to kickstart their own nature projects.