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Eco-Schools
As well as the information below, check out our mini-site at Join the Pod for a photo gallery of our Green Britain Day events.
Longfield Academy flies the green flag!
The highest award possible - the Green flag award was achieved in September 2008 and the Eco team go from strength to strength. Planning for developments and exciting new projects has already started at our first meeting in September 2009.
Students, staff, governors and parents at Longfield Academy have been involved with the national Eco-Schools campaign since September 2004. In that time we have made real changes and improvements to our school environment. Led by the Eco team, which meets each month and consists of students and staff, all students are able to take part in our activities, projects and develop plans.
One of our first large scale projects was Live Earth. Recycling bins were purchased with money raised from a 'Live Earth' day when students participated in various activities and a talent show. This event coincided with the Live Earth rock concert that was held to raise global awareness and concern for our planet. There is an ongoing drive to keep our school litter-free with numerous new bins in place and a poster campaign. Every office, room and learning area now has recycling bins which are used by all. This has reduced the amount of waste put in other bins and then to landfill sites.
Fairtrade coffee mornings were held with products donated by Waitrose in Longfield and an Enterprise Day allowed Year 10s to consider the issues surrounding our trade with developing countries.
Students have also participated in several RSPB survey, including one in the pouring rain when no birds were spotted!
The Wildlife group has the opportunity to get involved in conservation and develop their environmental awareness, often working alongside experts from Kent Wildlife Trust. They are now linked with the Environmental Architect developing the plans for the new Academy buildings and aim to limit the impact on wildlife.
Our green gardeners took on the challenge of creating a vegetable garden in a quad area of the Academy ready for planting in spring 2008. The raised beds, compost bins, tool shed have all been made from recycled materials by a team of year 11 students and staff. The warm weather was great for the crops but the lack of rainfall this summer did mean hours of watering duty for committed members! We harvested a wide range of crops including rocket, peas, potatoes, beetroot and carrots. The students were able to use the ingredients in their food tech lessons and have tasting sessions during open lunch times.
Green Britain Day in July 2009 proved a great success. For a full report see July newsletter.
Being 'green' is an ongoing commitment for all of us and we are looking forward to the continued challenges ahead.
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