Stroud School, in Romsey, launches four-year sustainability plan to reduce carbon footprint

Stroud School, King Edward VI Preparatory, in Romsey has launched a four-year Sustainability Plan to help the school community take steps to reduce its footprint.

The independent school, in Highwood Lane, is setting up projects to tackle four areas including energy efficiency and creation, food waste reduction, 'reduce, reuse, recycle' and nature recovery.  

The first fundraising project is to buy a Ridan Food Composter to turn waste into usable compost and teach the children how compost is made.

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The four-year sustainability plan was launched by children taking part in outdoor activities such as weaving woven petals that will be used to mark out wildflower meadows next Spring, basket making and insect and honey tasting. 

The launch was followed by Stroud’s first-ever Green Fair with independent stalls from wildlife charities Hampshire and the IoW Trust, Hampshire Swifts and artists selling their work. Test Valley Borough Council promoted recycling, while SA Energy demonstrated solar energy. The fair was also host to an electronic car information area for visitors to speak to electric car owners alongside a "children’s outdoor kit swap and costume sale." 

The school has begun restoring pathways, seating areas and hedgerows to the woodland areas within its 22 acres. Other areas have been left to recover organically as part of a wider rewilding.

Meanwhile, a new hide allows pupils to get closer to wildlife and have an outdoor hub to use in wetter weather. Every year a Learning Outside the Classroom Day encourages students and staff to embrace outdoor learning.

To continue the eco drive the school’s wildlife ranger has been focussing on developing Stroud’s outdoor space and incorporating sustainability into the curriculum.

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Stroud has been awarded the ‘Council for Learning Outside the Classroom’ (CLOtC) Silver Award, a national accreditation endorsed by the Department for Education and is now working towards the Gold Award. 

Ongoing projects include gardening clubs, planting an orchard in the school grounds and further energy saving and charity initiatives. 

For more information on the Stroud School Sustainability Initiative email Mrs Wendy Reid at wsr@stroud-kes.org.uk.