Daubeney is an accredited Eco School and recently received a platinum OPAL award for its creative provision of outdoor play and learning facilities in the playground. The school also runs a biennial programme of “It Takes A Village” events to promote community involvement in boosting life opportunities for its students and in particular the most marginalised members of its community.

The school, which has about 450 pupils aged 3-11, is working with Natural Neighbours to involve its local and parent/carer community in improving wildlife habitats across its grounds. Dozens of people of all ages have helped plant trees for shade in the playgrounds, build raised-bed planters and convert the Hop Garden – a 33m by 15m former industrial space which had been covered in astroturf – into a wildlife hotspot complete with a pond, shrubs and trees, and fruit, herb and veg beds.

We consulted with pupils, parents and carers, staff and other stakeholders to understand their hopes and aspirations for the grounds and how they could be involved in caring for and enjoying them. We then drew up plans, formed a steering group with representatives of parent and carers, school staff and the council. What followed has been incredible – a groundswell of local energy, expertise and enthusiasm has allowed us to transform the space together, benefitting human and wildlife residents alike.

You can see a film documenting how Natural Neighbours and the community transformed the school grounds together here.

You can catch up on the latest developments at Daubeney School in our news section.