BUCKFASTLEIGH Primary School and Bicton College have joined forces to teach their children about the environment and the importance of being more eco-friendly.

Staff from the college have been holding workshops at the school and have also donated a hydroponics system and lots of plants.  

Headmaster of Buckfastleigh Primary School, Richard Arundell, said: ’The idea of the project is that it will bring together a love of the outdoors, gardening, food and the whole eco agenda; encouraging all the children to be greener.’ 

The project has already sparked lots of enthusiasm from the children and staff at the primary school. As well as learning about environmental issues the project will also allow the children to gain more skills such as cooking, gardening and farming. 

Mr Arundell added: ’The aim is to educate the students, reduce our energy use, recycle as much water on site as we can, compost all our food waste and eventually feed our own crops into the school kitchen.

’Bicton College has already been kind to donate the resources to start this project. We are keen to develop this partnership with them.’

The plants have been used by the school children to create a garden and enter the RHS annual ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ competition. The garden is one of 11 to be judged, and results will be given out soon.

The eco project coordinator at Buckfastleigh Primary School, Belinda Martin, said: ’I am looking forward to developing this project and working in partnership with Bicton College. I studied on the RHS Level 2 in Practical Horticulture at Bicton College and received fantastic training from the staff. I am now using my skills to teach primary school children about gardening, food production, waste management systems and sustainability.

’I think it is important for students to know where their food comes from and to learn about the environment and how we are impacting it. It’s all about collaborating with the community to make a positive difference to the world.’