My School, My Planet: supporting schools and community groups to improve Walsall's natural heritage

My School, My Planet activities. Photo: Learning through Landscapes

National Lottery Grants for Heritage – £10,000 to £250,000

Date awarded

21/07/2022

Location

St Paul

Local Authority

Winchester

Applicant

The Learning Through Landscapes Trust

Award Given

£249708

My School, My Planet is helping 16 Walsall schools and community groups to learn about and improve their natural spaces and mitigate the effects of the climate crisis.

Many of project participants are from diverse ethnic communities, who have fewer opportunities to engage with nature. This project builds the knowledge of these communities on the themes of biodiversity loss, the climate crisis and soil degradation on a local level. Getting involved in planning and making improvements to their school and community outdoor spaces is boosting physical activity and wellbeing.

A girl holding a spade amongst plants — Making changes. Photo: Learning through Landscapes

My School, My Planet has introduced the world of nature to the children of Walsall, who wouldn't usually engage with their natural heritage.

Project Officer, Learning through Landscapes

Since January 2023, two project officers and a trainee project officer based in Walsall have delivered outdoor learning sessions. These have focused on exploring cultural heritage, surveying school grounds, building the childrens' knowledge, exchanging ideas and planning for change.

Two girls holding takeaway cups filled with soil — A bug hunt. Photo: Learning through Landscapes

Thanks to National Lottery players, Learning through Landscapes has so far achieved:

300 hours of outdoor learning
engagement from 277 children from 16 schools in Walsall
positive changes in school grounds and community sites by making grants available
3,000 litres of topsoil spread to improve soil quality
engagement from 10 community groups

Jaz Paul, Headteacher at Ryders Hayes School said: “We feel this project will support the school in delivering its core message of pupils understanding their role in the wider world and how their behaviours continue to affect the future generations.”

Colourful wooden badges created by schoolchildren during the project — Wooden badges. Photo: Learning through Landscapes

Work continues with the schools and community groups to improve Walsall's natural spaces through activities such as tree planting, creating wildflower meadows and improving soil quality. Each school and community partner will create a two-year plan to ensure the project has a lasting legacy, and community celebration events will mark milestones in the project.

A Project Officer at Learning through Landscapes said: "My School, My Planet has introduced the world of nature to the children of Walsall, who wouldn't usually engage with their natural heritage."