Kingfisher creates own wildlife haven

CREATING planters at Kingfisher School

MOST people would rather be outdoors than in an office or classroom. And that is what pupils at Kingfisher School, Chadderton, can do thanks to their eco-schools work.

The school has created its own wood, raised beds for crops and flowers, a wildlife haven and an allotment.

All are fully accessible for its pupils who have severe and complex special needs, and the youngsters have planted their own trees.

School business manager Michael Unsworth said: “We have always had a focus on the environment around us. It is something, particularly for the children here, that they can get involved in and can make a difference to the surroundings.

“Our children would rather be outside. We can take their learning and do it in an environment where they are comfortable, relaxed and stimulated.”

Pupils have also worked on areas such as saving energy and recycling, and the school is rightly proud to have been awarded a permanent green flag, which means it has achieved the accolade four times in a row.

But Michael is keen to stress the role the children have played, adding: “It is a fantastic achievement and the key thing to get across is the pupil involvement.

“It is not teachers doing it, it is the pupils being 100 per cent behind it and having a say in what goes on.

“We have got a really strong eco-committee made up of representatives from all the classes and they come to us with ideas.”