The Green Team at Marden High School with teacher Julie Ashford (far left) and Demmi Robinson (second right), Northumberland Wildlife Trust Green Mentor. Image by Charlotte Darby.
Pupils turning green with enthusiasm
Pupils from Marden High School in Cullercoats have been putting thoughts of covid, lockdowns and isolation behind them and channelling all their energies into going green thanks to hands on support from Northumberland Wildlife Trust and financial support from national education charity the Ernest Cook Trust.
Working with the wildlife charity, the fifteen Year 8 pupils, known as The Green Team have stayed behind after school and wasted no time creating an allotment and garden on the school field and growing plants, flowers, trees, fruit and vegetables. This natural space will also form part of a wellbeing area for both students and staff, with The Green Team taking full responsibility for its upkeep.
Speaking about their garden, the pupils said: “We’ve chosen to create a garden that will support wildlife and to demonstrate the importance of taking care of nature and the environment to other schools.”
In addition, the students, aged 12 - 13 years of age, recognised that growing and nurturing flowers helps improve emotional wellbeing, so have planted 30 sunflowers for classrooms across the school for fellow pupils to look after. There will be a prize for the best-grown flower, before they are planted in the garden area.
This isn’t the first time the young people have shown an interest in environmental issue, having previously been involved in a similar but much smaller project in the school.
Now, however, thanks to funding from the pioneering Ernest Cook Green Influencers Scheme, Demmi Robinson, Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Green Mentor is helping to turn the ideas of the pupils into action by meeting with them on a weekly basis, planning and facilitating the sessions to turn, whilst at the same time, encouraging more students to get involved in the project.
Commenting on The Green Team and all its efforts Green Mentor Demmi says: “I’m really blown away by the enthusiasm and commitment of the young people at Marden High School. They are an absolute joy to work with as they recognise the need to create green spaces with long-lasting benefits for everyone’s health and wellbeing - now, more so than ever.
“None of this would have been possible without support from the Ernest Cook Trust, the teachers at the school and parents who may be nurturing the next generation of conservation leaders… you never know.”
Any schools, youth clubs, community centres or community projects interested in joining the Green Influencers Scheme and receiving free support from Demmi, via the Ernest Cook Trust should contact her at: demmi.robinson@northwt.org.uk