st margaret's academy - action plan for our school grounds

St Margaret’s Academy

School Grounds Action PlanDecember 2010

Contents 1.0 - Participation process and context pg 1 2.0 - St Margaret’s Academy aerial view plan pg 2 3.0 - Plan of St Margaret’s Academy showing potential locations for pg 3 short-term projects 3.1 – Short-term changes – next steps and recommendations pg 4 4.0 - Plan of St Margaret’s Academy showing potential locations for short pg 7 and medium-term projects 4.1 – Medium-term changes – next steps and recommendations pg 8 5.0 - Plan of St Margaret’s Academy showing potential locations for pg 12 short, medium and long-term projects 5.1 – Long-term changes – next steps and recommendations pg 13 Appendix A – All priorities from the group sessions pg 16 Appendix B – Useful contacts and resources pg 20

1

1.0 Participation process and context The process Students and staff at St Margaret’s Academy engaged in a number of participation workshops run by Architecture + Design Scotland’s (A+DS) Schools Programme in partnership with Grounds for Learning (GfL) throughout September and October 2010. The purpose of these workshops was to engage students and staff in activities, which would enable them to think about and generate ideas for potential improvements to their school grounds. The workshops looked at four themes within the context of school grounds; nature spaces, healthy spaces, social spaces and learning + teaching spaces. Groups representing each of the four themes took part in separate workshops and generated a wealth of ideas for improvements to each type of space. Groups then voted for their top 5 priorities, which were presented back to the larger group at a feedback workshop. Priorities and timescales The feedback workshop involved participants in thinking about and recording the next steps and proposed timescales for each of their priorities (see sections 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1). This report details each group’s thoughts for the next steps for their ideas and categorises them into short, medium and long-term timescales, as shown below. Many of the shorter-term ideas can be initiated and carried out by the school themselves, with relatively few resources. The medium and longer timescale ideas need further consideration and consultation with the wider school community. West Lothian Council architects involved in the project will be working alongside the school to help and support the implementation of the medium and longer timescale ideas. Additional recommendations The additional recommendations (in sections 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1) provide supplementary advice from A+DS and GfL, regarding each project’s next steps. This was included to ensure that the staff and students of St Margaret’s Academy have as much information and as many resources as possible to begin making improvements to their school grounds.

Area behind grasspitch

Area behind astro pitch

Area abovegrass pitch

Sloping grass area behind PE

Wooded area 1

Courtyard

School front

Wooded area 2

Wooded area 3

Bus park shelter

2

2.0 Plan of St Margaret’s Academy showing external areas considered by participants for development

1

3

62

2

1 Natural bench/shelter area

Short Term Priorities

Bug hotels

6

3

4

5

Replant hedgerow/ plant native species to attract wildlife

Improved access to woodland (area to be identified)

Construction area (area to be identified)

Benches at front of school

3.0 Plan of St Margaret’s Academy showing potential locations for short-term project ideas

3

2

4

Project idea Natural bench area and natural shelter in woodland –

at front of school (social) – see green no. 1 on map How can we take this forward?

• Consult the management team and ensure that they are happy with the proposed plan

• Decide on a suitable location for the benches • Decide on the style/size/cost the school is willing to consider

What challenges and barriers might we face?

• Access for all pupils around the school • Problems with colonies of year groups taking over • Weather conditions – benches may not be suitable in all

weather conditions Estimated timescale

• Short term – we already have benches in storage – it’s just a case of finding a suitable place to situate them

Next steps • Liaising with management and consulting PE to ensure they are happy with the proposed location.

• Final benches to be put in place sometime soon Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next pupil council meeting • Confirm access to proposed area is allowed, with school

management • Consider how shelter might work alongside the seating area • Think about the potential conflict between this area and the

badger set • Consider synergies between this idea and the ‘shelter and

seating area for learning + teaching’ (yellow no.6) Project idea Bug Hotels (nature) – see green no. 2 on map How can we take this forward?

• Build it yourself using dead wood and just test out where you put it and see the best place and materials to use to make a bug hotel


• People may accidentally destroy them thinking its rubbish

Estimated timescale

• Short timescale – easy to make and set up

Next steps • Make more to put in more places • Contact Hugh, the ranger at Beecraigs

Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next eco-committee meeting • Consult with science teachers about how bug hotels could

be used in lessons • Carry out further research into how bug hotels can be

created, what materials are needed and the best locations to situate them – see Appendix B for more ideas

3.1 Short-term changes - next steps and recommendations

5

Project idea Replant hedgerow and plant native species to attract

wildlife (nature) – see green no. 3 on map How can we take this forward?

• Find out who cuts it and stop spraying pesticides underneath it

• Fill up some gaps using native plants What challenges and barriers might we face?

• Who would look after it and take care of it? • Looks shouldn’t matter

Estimated timescale

• All timescales – because if you stop cutting and spraying it, it will already look different

Next steps • Speak to the people who own it and try and get funding (help).

• Mr Docherty to see about grant/funding Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next eco-committee meeting • Confirm hedgerow is on school grounds – contact West

Lothian Council • Think about timescale – short to implement but will require

ongoing maintenance • Speak to the janitor or whoever currently maintains the

hedge to talk about changing their practices and to see if this is realistic

• Contact someone with expertise in native hedgerow and tree species - Beecraigs ranger service (contact details in Appendix B)

Project idea Improved access to woodland area (learning +

teaching) – see green no. 4 on map How can we take this forward?

• Identify areas that require access • Talk to Senior Leadership Team (SLT)/Designers/Contractors


• Cost • SLT obstructions to using areas

Estimated timescale

• Short timescale

Next steps • Speak to SLT • Work out costs • Speak to designers/contractors


• Confirm access to this area of woodland has been granted • Think about the opportunity to develop this project

alongside the ‘shelter and seating area for learning + teaching’ (yellow no.6) and ‘seating area in the woodland’ (yellow no.2) ideas

• Think about timescale – project may take longer depending on decision regarding access to the area

• Consider access for all

6

Project idea Construction area (learning + teaching) – see green

no. 5 on map How can we take this forward?

• Identify area • Find out who could/would use it • Identify features required – trenches, hills, flat area?


• Cost • Available space

Estimated timescale

• Short timescale

Next steps • Identify area and requirements then liaise with contractors in order to use heavy machinery if required.


• Consult wider staff group - bring up at the next staff meeting to gauge response and need for type of area – think about synergies between departments, who else could use an area like this?

• Think about access from the inside to the construction area and how easy it will be to move equipment and materials

Project idea Benches at front of school (health) – see green no. 6

on map How can we take this forward?

• SLT • Could be constructed within CDT • Ideal monoblock terrain outside of school


• As discussed at presentation – SLT keen on idea

Estimated timescale

• Short term – cheap and easy, some benches already available

Next steps • Check on progress with SLT Additional recommendations

• Bring idea up at next pupil council meeting • Speak to Mr Campbell about potential of constructing

benches within CDT curriculum • Consider new locations for existing benches – could trial

different areas • Think about the positioning of the benches in relation to one

another

1

3

6

2

2



Bug hotels

6

3

4

5





4.0 Plan of St Margaret’s Academy showing potential locations for short and medium-term project ideas

Outdoor storage (area to be identified)

Growing area (area to be identified)

3 Bird facilities

2

6

7

4

5

1

8

Medium Term Priorities

Trenches

Seating in woodland

Wildflower meadow

Shelter + seating in woodland for teaching

Nature walk/ bike track (area to be identified)

1

23

2 3 6

4

7

2

8

Project idea Trenches (social) – see yellow no. 1 on map How can we take this forward?

• Students may be happy to become involved in the school ‘digging process’

• The SLT would need to be consulted and included in plans • We already have a natural ditch which may be used to base

the idea upon –giving us a starting point • We would need a plan to follow for the structure of the

overall idea What challenges and barriers might we face?

• Health and safety issues • Weather may halt proceedings • Mobility for all pupils/access • Having any pupils/staff willing to take part in construction

Estimated timescale

• Medium term – we already have a starting point from which to begin, however access is an issue

Next steps • Consulting management to come up with a plan which we would use to carry out the construction

• Management could advise on the best route/boundaries to follow


• Discuss idea at the next staff meeting and identify who else would use this resource and what for?

• Area identified is well forested – how would this area need to be adapted to enable a class of students to use it?

Project idea Seating in the woodland (social) – see yellow no. 2 on

map How can we take this forward?

• Investigate possible suppliers for decking • Speak to Mrs Hughes for finance • Possible areas to adapt the tree stumps • Plant new trees so old ones can be cut down for tree stumps

and natural seats What challenges and barriers might we face?

• Health and safety • Possibly disturb wildlife? • Tree stumps for seats will mean cutting the trees down

Estimated timescale

• This would have a medium to long timescale as the access to the seating would have to be considered e.g. paths

Next steps • Considering a pathway into all the wood areas Additional recommendations

• Discuss at next pupil council meeting • Obtain formal permission to access proposed area from SLT • Think about the strong links between this idea, the ‘shelter

and seating area for learning + teaching’ (yellow no.6) and the ‘improved access to woodland’ (green no.4) idea, as they should be considered alongside one another.

• Get advice and possibly obtain materials from Beecraigs park • It’s important to consider the badger set – should people be

able to access this area? • Think about out of hours use of this type of area and

potential vandalism

4.1 Medium-term changes - next steps and recommendations

9

Project idea Bird Facil it ies (nature) – see yellow no. 3 on map How can we take this forward?

• We need to work with CDT, they make bird boxes – put web cams in them

• Buy young plants and trees • Research good plants/trees that are bird friendly • Bird fountain • Bird feeders – different types for different birds


• Plants/trees – getting looked after • Maintaining bird boxes • Putting feed in feeder regularly

Estimated timescale

• Medium timescale – there are many aspects to bird facilities, some will take longer than others

Next steps • Find suitable places for plants/trees and quiet/peaceful areas as well


• This could be driven by the eco-committee • Consider other subject areas which could contribute towards

creating the bird facilities and approach the relevant teachers to talk about your ideas

• Think about monitoring and maintenance of facilities • Carry out further research about where bird

boxes/feeders/tables should be located – see Appendix B for further info

Project idea Wild flower meadow (nature) – see yellow no. 4 on


• Janitor/council might take this forward, we would need to talk to them


• Speak to council • Not likely to be expensive

Estimated timescale

• Medium timescale

Next steps • Leaving it to grow • Plant wild flowers


• This could be driven by the eco-committee • Carry out further research about how to create a wildflower

meadow e.g. what to grow and when – see Appendix B for further information

• Consider the potential conflict between this project idea and the ‘decking beside pitch’ (red no.5) – how might this be resolved? Can the two projects work together to provide improved human enjoyment of wildlife areas?

• Consider the idea that a wildflower meadow doesn’t need to be a large area but would need to be open and sunny.

10

Project idea Growing area/market garden (learning + teaching) – see yellow no. 5 on map

How can we take this forward?

• Identify area • Find out how much space/growing area is required • Who would benefit from it?


• Cost • Upkeep – someone to maintain, with garden/growing

experience Estimated timescale


Next steps • Find interested/experienced parties Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next staff/SLT meeting • Think about how members of the Parent Teacher

Association (PTA) might be able to help or have expertise in this area which they could share – contact the PTA teaching rep for more info (see Appendix B)

• Consider the different subject areas which could be involved in developing and using a growing space

• In the short-term, consider how departments might be able to start growing using the greenhouse area in the courtyard

• Students raised concerns about potential vandalism to an area similar to this if it went ahead – would need consider how this might be overcome

• See Appendix B for more help and resources on garden growing areas

Project idea Shelter and seating area for teaching (learning +

teaching) – see yellow no. 6 on map How can we take this forward?

• Identify areas to use • Mr Campbell to speak to SLT • Encourage teachers to take lessons outside • This will help identify what is required for each session


• Negative response from teachers/management • Cost • Maintenance • Vandalism

Estimated timescale


Next steps • Encourage more lessons outside Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next staff/SLT meeting – speak to other teachers about how they might be able to use such a resource

• Consider developing this project alongside the ‘seating in the woodland’ (yellow no.2) idea as well as the ‘improving access to the woodland’ (green no.4) idea

• Have a look at Appendix B for information about ‘CPD Partnership opportunities in Outdoor Learning for Teachers Across Scotland’ run by LTS

11

Project idea Outdoor storage (learning + teaching) – see yellow no.

7 on map How can we take this forward?

• What needs to be stored? • Who would use it? • Identify areas for storage


• Cost • Maintenance • Security • Key holder/responsibility

Estimated timescale

• Short to long timescale (depending on where)

Next steps • Assess storage requirements • Cost options


• Develop this in conjunction with the ‘shelter and seating area for teaching’ (yellow no.6) idea to ensure the two are complimentary

• Raise idea at next staff/SLT meeting – speak to other teachers about how they might be able to use such a resource

Project idea Nature walk/bike track (health) – see yellow no. 8 on


• SLT and pupil council (or health group if possible) • Outside agency required • Circumference of school grounds are ideal


• Health and safety concerns • Change current spaces • External help needed • Likely to be expensive

Estimated timescale

• Medium to long term

Next steps • Raise in pupil council Additional recommendations

• Confirm which area of land the school/West Lothian council own and the trail route

• Potential barriers regarding students leaving the school grounds and related health and safety concerns

• Contractors already on site could potentially help to create route

• Contact Active Schools Coordinator for West Lothian to seek advice – see Appendix B for contact details.

1

3

6

2

2



Bug hotels

6

3

4

5





5.0 Plan of St Margaret’s Academy showing potential locations for short and medium-term project ideas

Outdoor storage (area to be identified)

Growing area (area to be identified)

3 Bird facilities

2

6

7

4

5

1

8

Medium Term Priorities

Trenches

Seating in woodland

Wildflower meadow

Shelter + seating in woodland for teaching

Nature walk/ bike track (area to be identified)

1

23

2 3 6

4

12

2

5 Decking beside pitch + new 3G pitch

Basketball half-court

4

2

3

1

Long Term Priorities

Football stand

Bus park shelter

Amphitheatre style seating/decking

2

1

54

3

13

Project idea Basketball half court (social and health) – see red no. 1

on map How can we take this forward?

• We would use the open spaces beside the Astroturf. • It is likely to be expensive but it would be worth it. • Pupil discussion to lead to senior management • Possible benefits to PE curriculum • Agree proposals


• Different opinions from groups on what space could be used for

• Time-consuming • Health and safety concerns • Environmental damage • Vandalism • Design process necessary from external contractor • Budgetable (within reason)

Estimated timescale

• It would be a long timescale because it would take planning and finding a company to do it and because of potential budgeting problems, school extension/planning

Next steps • Implemented as soon as possible, within and out with school timetable

• To bring it to the attention of West Lothian Council. Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next pupil council or health group meeting • Consider access to court and its proximity to school – would

you have time to use this area in your break and lunch times if it was beyond where the current Astroturf is?

• Contact your Active Schools Coordinator for advice – see Appendix B for contact info

• Think about potential funding streams – see Appendix B for further info

Project idea Football stand (social) – see red no. 2 on map How can we take this forward?

• We could use the space behind the Astroturf to build a stand for pupils to enjoy the school football matches

• Also it can be used for shelter for those who forget their PE kits

• Need to consult with staff (especially PE) to get permission What challenges and barriers might we face?

• It will be quite expensive • It will take some time to build • Weather conditions

Estimated timescale

• This will be long term because it will take a lot of planning and a long time to build

Next steps • Consult with PE and management Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next pupil council meeting • Think about different ways to secure funds for this project,

e.g. PTA, grants, fundraising – see Appendix B for further info

5.1 Long-term changes - next steps and recommendations

14

Project idea Bus Park Shelter (social) – see red no. 3 on map How can we take this forward?

• Find the possible area for shelter • Measure the length of the bus park • Show how the pupils are wet and unhappy on rainy days


• Cost of making the shelter the whole length of the bus park

Estimated timescale

• The project would be long term as planning and construction would have to take place

Next steps • Plan whether it is possible Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next pupil council meeting • Consult with the wider school community – is this something

that other students think would be beneficial too? • Consider how the bus park shelter could be designed to

allow it to be used for a variety of other activities Project idea Amphitheatre style seating + decking (health) – see

red no. 4 on map How can we take this forward?

• Pupil council discussion to lead onto SLT • Designed by Graphic Communication and Art and partly

constructed by CDT • Ideally located at PE side entrance


• Major budgeting issue • Easily accessible area both teaching staff and pupils • Constructed by company and West Lothian Council would

have to be involve Estimated timescale

• Long term timescale – budgeting, school extension and planning problems

Next steps • Discussion with SLT Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next pupil council/health meeting • Consider the potential conflicts with the ‘wildflower

meadow’ (yellow no.4) project and how these might be resolved – they might not have to be mutually exclusive and could co-exist alongside one another?

15

Project idea Decking beside pitch + new 3G pitch (health) – see red

no. 5 on map How can we take this forward?

• Pupil council discussion to lead to SLT • No school opportunities to construct and design projects • Ideally located at PE side entrance


• Major budgeting restraints • Easily accessible area • No health and safety concerns

Estimated timescale

• Long term timescale – budgeting restrictions

Next steps • Once in use - area can be easily used within curriculum Additional recommendations

• Raise idea at next pupil council/health group meeting • Consult with the wider school community – is this something

people feel strongly about and would like to have? • Talk to PE staff about how they feel about this • Extensive funds need to be raised – see Appendix B for

further information

16

Appendix A - All priorities from group sessions Each themed group generated many ideas and priorities for the type of space they were focusing on. This section details all the ideas that each group came up with, including those which made it into their top 5 priorities. Although not all the ideas finished in the top 5 priorities there is still scope for them to be taken forward by the school. Ideas shown in bold are those that made it into the group’s top 5 priorities. 1. Nature Spaces Priorities Grassland Group

• Garden at the back of P.E. (5 votes) • Pond – refurbish/clean up courtyard pond (0 votes) • Bird facil it ies – houses/feeders – use planting to encourage birds (12

votes) • Create a meadow for wild flowers – don’t cut the grass! (6 votes) • More trees (1 vote)

Woodland group

• Keep and use dead wood piles in woodland for spiders and bugs (3 votes) • Grow plants that encourage butterflies and native wild flowers (3 votes) • Birdhouses up trees – maybe with a webcam! (3 votes) • Hedgehog homes for hibernation – can be made using twigs and cardboard (4

votes) • Colourful bird feeders and birdhouses in trees (1 vote)

Urban/tarmac group

• Plant native plants to attract insects/birds e.g. wil low trees (7 votes) • Bird baths in courtyard (1 vote) • Bug hotels made from dead wood, using leaves/twigs inside (9

votes) • Replant hedgerow and grow different types of plants at the

edge/bottom (9 votes) • Bat boxes hung in courtyard or out front (2 votes)

Human enjoyment of nature

• Benches and tables/seating or social area in grassland (2 votes) • After school nature club/group (0 votes) • Use nature more in biology lessons (0 votes) • Bird hide/hiding shelter/box to view nature (1 vote) • Webcam in bird houses (5 votes) • Wildlife course/blindfold rope course through woodland (0 votes)

17

2. Social Spaces Priorities Front, Sides and Woodland Group

• Natural bench area and natural shelter area in woodland - remove fence at bottom (8 votes)

• Trenches in the side woodland area – natural ditch already in place (Curriculum links – history, drama and CDT) (7 votes)

• Bus park shelter around the wall – perhaps decked to make it more weatherproof (8 votes)

• Wooded area at Bus Park could be used as lunch area (not after school) and social area (snaked seating) designed by the pupils? (1 vote)

• Sand pit and mini-diggers/tractors (like Beecraigs) (1 vote) • Spanish steps – area for people to get to easily for shelter, benches and natural

areas (flowers etc). Use as amphitheatre for drama (0 votes) • Treehouse for social area (2 votes) • Courtyard – outdoor all weather games centre (snooker, bowling). Concrete

over fish (0 votes) • Keep the old hill (by the grassy pitch) hilled! Amphitheatre for drama (3 votes)

Area behind P.E.

• Seating area in woodland – tree stumps, possible decking (long term)(12 votes)

• Nature trail behind football pitches (medium term) (5 votes) • Basketball court behind the pitches or grassy area basketball court –

beside PE/swimming (long term (7 votes) • Flower/art decorations at PE or behind pitches – dependant on where basketball

court is (long term) (4 votes) • Football stand behind pitch (7 votes)

18

3. Healthy Spaces Priorities Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

• Nature walk – emotional, peaceful (2 votes) • Mini roundabout with flowers (bus area) (1 vote) • Plant area (fire exit route) (0 votes) • School front – benches and shelter (5 votes) • Walk way by PE - Art project/collage project or art path (2 votes) • PE side entrance – grass to decking/3G grass pitch (4 votes) • Astroturf – benches and shelter (3 votes)

Physical Health

• Paths from front down to natural seating (0 votes) • Seats at the front of school (0 votes) • Allotments (2 votes) • Picnic benches at front of school (5 votes) • Nature trail/bike track (woods) (4 votes) • Seating in woods by PE (1 vote) • Amphitheatre style seating/decking beside PE (9 votes) • Basketball half court/tarmac target practice area round back of

pitches (7 votes) • Seating area overlooking grass pitch- rows of sheltered graduated seats (3 votes) • Hard surface path by PE – so you don’t have to go through car park (2 votes)

19

4. Learning and Teaching Space Priorities

1. Shelter and seating for outdoor classes – creative writing space with log benches in natural areas, could be used as social seating (12 votes)

2. Growing area – market garden area for enterprise/sell ing (6 votes) 3. Construction area – space in which to build larger scale projects

e.g. bridge building (4 votes)

4. Improved access to wooded area so pupils/staff can get into these areas easi ly (2 votes)

5. Outdoor storage – secure place for mats, fold-up chairs and cl ipboards for outdoor lessons (1 vote)

20

Appendix B – Useful contacts and resources West Lothian contacts

• Hugh Ilgunas, Livingston Ranger Service ([email protected]) • Becky Plunkett, Community Greenspace Officer, West Lothian Council

([email protected]) • Monika Wilkinson, Active Schools Coordinator, West Lothian Council

([email protected]) • Beecraigs Sawmill, 01506 848945 – ([email protected]) • Charlie Swan, Teacher’s Rep, St Margaret’s Academy Parent Teacher Association

Funding and grants general info

• Big Lottery Fund Scotland – (http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland) • Eco-Schools webpage on financial help for school grounds –

(http://resource.ecoschoolsscotland.org/help.asp?t=8&c=financial) • Eco-Schools webpage on financial help for biodiversity on school grounds –

(http://resource.ecoschoolsscotland.org/help.asp?t=7&c=financial) • Growing Schools funding webpage –

(http://www.growingschools.org.uk/Support/funding.asp) • Awards for All - gives grants of between £500 and £10,000 for people to take

part in art, sport and community activities, and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community – (http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html)

• Sport Scotland – funding for sport (http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/NR/exeres/465E0E38-56A2-4CF2-A854-102D8B8155EB.htm)

• Royal Horticultural Funding webpage – (http://apps.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening/teachershome/resources/findingfunding.aspa)

Bug hotels resources

• Growing Schools Garden webpage – click on ‘Wildlife Stations’ to download and fact sheet about how to create a bug hotel - (http://www.thegrowingschoolsgarden.org.uk/)

• Cornwall Wildlife Trust – Activities for School Grounds – click on ‘How to build a hibernation hotel for invertebrates’ for a download sheet (http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/education/school_grounds_activities)

• Cheshire Wildlife Trust – download a booklet on how to ‘Build and Invertebrate habitat’ – (http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.co.uk/proj_gardening.htm)

• Wild About garden’s page on how to ‘Build a bug mansion’ – (http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/thingstodo/inaweekend/bug-mansion.aspx)

• Wild About Garden’s Resource webpage – click on ‘Creature Features’ to download a sheet about creating lodgings for wildlife – (http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/resources.aspx)

21

Native tree and plant species and hedges • Wild About Garden’s Resources webpage – download ‘Hedges for Wildlife’ –

(http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/resources.aspx) • Woodlands Trust – Hedge and Copse Tree planting instructions – click on

‘Planting Guide’ under Scotland for your how to guide – (http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/take-part/plant-trees/Pages/free-tree-pack-resources.aspx)

• Woodlands Trust – free Hedgerow planting pack – (http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/take-part/plant-trees/Pages/priority.aspx)

Bird facil it ies resources

• Cheshire Wildlife Trust – download a booklet on ‘Homes for Birds’ – (http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.co.uk/proj_gardening.htm)

• Wild About Garden’s Resources page – click on ‘Making and installing nest boxes for garden birds’ to download a fact sheet (http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/resources.aspx)

Wild flower meadow resources • Information on wild flower species and meadows -

(http://www.schoolplaygrounddesigners.co.uk/Wild-Flowers.html) • BBC guide to creating a wildflower meadow – • (http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/basics/techniques/organic_meadow1.shtml) • Cheshire Wildlife Trust – download a booklet on how to ‘Plant a wildflower

meadow’ – (http://www.cheshirewildlifetrust.co.uk/proj_gardening.htm)

• Wild About Garden’s Resources webpage – download ‘Wildflower Meadows’ – (http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/resources.aspx)

• Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust – Wildflower Meadow Factsheet (http://www.lincstrust.org.uk/factsheets/meadow/convert.php)

Growing area/market garden resources

• Garden Organic School resources webpage – (http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/organicgardening/schools-resources.php)

• Growing Schools Support Organisations Database – (http://www.growingschools.org.uk/Organisations/OrganisationLibrary.aspx)

Learning and teaching resources • CPD programme for outdoor learning - series of free events from November

2010 to April 2011 for teachers and early years practitioners (http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learningteachingandassessment/approaches/outdoorlearning/supportmaterials/resources/cpdevents.asp)

• LTS’s outdoor learning page – (http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learningteachingandassessment/approaches/outdoorlearning/)

• Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning publication – (http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learningteachingandassessment/approaches/outdoorlearning/about/cfethroughoutdoorlearning.asp)

22

Other useful resources

• LTS webpage of useful organisations for outdoor learning – (http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learningteachingandassessment/approaches/outdoorlearning/supportmaterials/resources/organisations.asp)

• LTS webpage on resources for outdoor learning – (http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/learningteachingandassessment/approaches/outdoorlearning/supportmaterials/resources/index.asp)

• Eco-Schools webpage of practical help for school grounds – (http://resource.ecoschoolsscotland.org/help.asp?t=8&c=practical)

• Eco-Schools webpage for advice and information for school grounds – (http://resource.ecoschoolsscotland.org/help.asp?t=8&c=advice)

• Eco-Schools webpage on practical help for biodiversity in school grounds – (http://resource.ecoschoolsscotland.org/help.asp?t=7&c=practical)

• Eco-Schools webpage for advice and information for biodiversity in school grounds – (http://resource.ecoschoolsscotland.org/help.asp?t=7&c=advice)

• Growing School’s Resource Library – (http://www.growingschools.org.uk/Resources/ResourcesLibrary.aspx)

• Wild About Gardens provides lots of ideas for things to do and make outside – (http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/things-to-do.aspx)

• Wild About Garden’s Resources page – (http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/resources.aspx)

• The Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges Biodiversity Guide – Part 2 Practical Management (http://www.eauc.org.uk/part_2_practical_management

st margaret's academy - action plan for our school grounds

Documents