Eco-Schools Minutes 20-01-05

Minutes of Stafford Borough Eco-Schools Network Meeting

Held on 20^th January 2005 at Weston Road High School

1. Welcome and Introductions:

Sam Pickles                   - Stafford Borough Council, Local Agenda 21 Team

Paul Shires                     - Community Biodiversity Officer, Local Agenda 21 Team

Alan Watson                   - Walton Hall Special School - Working Farm

Jo Perry                           - Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

Maggie Whitehouse       - Weston Road High School

Carol Steptoe                 - Silkmore Primary School

Margaret Prince             - St. Peter's Primary School, Hixon

Julie Smith                      - St. Michael's Primary School, Stone

Laura Price                     - BTCV Project Officer

2. Apologies:

Margaret Corp               - St. Leonard's Primary School, Dunston

Carol Baker                    - All Saint's Primary, Bednall

Liz Kooseenlin               - Oakridge Primary School
Marie Proctor                 - Flash Ley Primary School

3. Local Food For Schools: Unfortunately Helen Swift (SCC Environment Officer) was unable to attend today to report on this project. Sam to invite her to next meeting.

4. Community Biodiversity Officer: Paul Shires explained his role in setting up Local Nature Reserves (LNR's) throughout Stafford Borough. So far 4 LNR's have been officially declared - Barlaston and Rough Close Common, Kingsmead Marsh, Astonfields Balancing Lakes and Stone Meadows. Further LNR's will be declared during 2005: Kingston Pool Covert (South), Crown Meadow (Stone) and Ferndown Drive (Swynnerton Parish). Part of Paul's remit is to increase community ownership and use of the LNR's and for this reason he is keen to involve school groups. Visits to the sites can be arranged for any activity ranging from a guided tour to more hands on activities such as wildflower planting or general maintenance work. Paul is also prepared to work in schools themselves - so if you need some advice for wildlife areas or want a class activity such as tree identification in the school grounds then please get in touch with Paul, T: 01785 619387 or E: pshires@staffordbc.gov.uk

The Staffordshire Rural Policing Liaison Group working in partnership with the probation service to make bird and bat boxes. These will be sold for a small fee. If anyone would like to order a bird or bat box Paul can pass on the details to the RPL Group.

5. BTCV: Laura Price (T: 01785 212410, E: l.price@btcv.org.uk) took up post as Project Officer at BTCV in November 2004. She has got some space in the project schedule and is keen to do some work with schools. Please get in touch with Laura to discuss any physical work in school grounds and see if there is any way BTCV can help.

6. Update from Sustainability Project Officer (Sam):

·        Cycler the Robot: All reported Cycler's visits to be successful, in fact in most cases the staff learnt as much as the children!!! Each school was left with a '3 Point Challenge' to try to pick three activities that would reduce the school's waste. St. Leonard's have had a previous visit from Cycler and one of the challenges they took up was to organise 2^nd had book and CD sales - they held two and raised £50 for the school on each occasion! Everyone was reminded of the competition to design a logo to go on the re-usable Cycler bags. Schools that missed out on this series of visits should contact Sam, hopefully we'll be able to do another set of schools in the future.

·        Sustainability Project Officer Post Extended: Sam explained that his post has now been extended until the end of 2005. However, in order to make this financially viable, he will now be working two days each week as Walking for Health Coordinator.

·        Recycling: Sam has met with Jane Paynter (SCC Recycling Officer) to discuss the problems schools face with finding routes to recycle waste. Again the issues of waste classification and recycling credits that make an immediate scheme unlikely were discussed. It was agreed that Jane would endeavour to compile information regarding the amount of recyclables arising from schools that can be used to support a future project for possible collection of materials. If anyone has information about the amount of any recyclable waste their school produces (e.g. kg of drinks cans per month) then please pass it onto Sam (All).

7. Network Future:

·        Funding: Sam reported a fairly good response to the letter asking Head Teachers to commit some financial support to the Network in return for increased support from the Sustainability Project Officer. So far 10 schools have responded positively. Schools that have not yet replied were asked to remind their Head Teachers (ALL). However, although each school was asked for the same amount (£100), different schools have varying numbers of pupils and therefore very different budgets. Sam to discuss with Karen Davies if a sliding scale would be more suitable. 50p per pupil for schools with less than 200 children was suggested as a fair amount.

·        Future Projects: Sam sought teachers' perspectives on a project to get children involved in growing food in school grounds. This already happens at a handful schools, but could be rolled out as a structured programme for all. The main point was that schools would need expert advice, to make it straightforward for teachers. How it would tie in with the curriculum was also discussed (e.g. it could tie in with PE as a Green Gym - particularly for high schools). Some practical problems were also pointed out: who would water vegetable patches during holidays; how would the areas be kept secure in high schools; would harvesting times be during term time? Some useful contacts were also passed on (Thomas Alleynes High School grow lots of food, RHS and HDRA already run similar projects). Sam to develop idea, discuss with potential partners and investigate funding streams.

8. Feedback from Schools:

·        Weston Road: Maggie is still investigating the possibility of a partnership with Schott Glass to install a solar panel at the school, although it is not clear if the contact still works at Schott.

·        Silkmore: John Rock (T: 278702), SCC County Grounds Area Manager is a great contact for any work in school grounds. He is presently helping to source, install and plant up a tyre garden using old tractor tyres. County Grounds also have an abundance of bark chippings available to schools at present.

9. Any Other Business:

·        Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Schools Membership: For the first time schools are able join SWT - please see the attached sheet for details. SWT will also soon be offering advice on school grounds improvements on an advisory basis. Jo to forward details once they become available.

·        Fairtrade Fortnight (1^st - 14^th March): Once again there are plenty of opportunities for schools to get involved. There is lots of information of the Fairtrade website (www.fairtrade.org.uk). Ideas for schools include displays in the school entrance, FT tuck shop, blindfold FT taste tests, FT assembly or plays (details of the FT website), designing posters or leaflets for parents, making FT cakes or having talks from FT experts (Silvia Gilbert T: 01785 212626 will be able to point you in the right direction).
This year FT Fortnight will be strengthened by the 'Make Poverty History' campaign which aims to convince the world's governments to take immediate action with three simple message: trade justice, drop the debt and more and better aid. More details on the website (it has a schools section): www.makepovertyhistory.org
In Stafford Fairtrade Fun Day will once again be held alongside the Farmers' Market on March 12^th. There will be interactive displays, stalls selling FT products, free samples, games and competitions. Sam to include vouchers to be photocopied and distributed in each school please (ALL). For children presenting a voucher (and a piece of packaging from a FT product) at the Stafford Area Action for Fairtrade (SAAFT) stall there will be a small prize.
On 20^th March SAAFT will be entering a team in the Stafford Half Marathon and Fun Run to raise money for the Tsunami appeal. If any children want to enter the Fun Run on the same day, sponsorship forms are available from Sam.

·        Playaway Opening Hours: Due to staff shortages the scrapstore will now only be opening late on alternate Thursdays (T: 259410).

·        Back-2-Bikes: The bicycle recycling project now has an extensive range of children's bikes for sale. Back-2-Bikes is open on Mondays and Fridays 9am - 5pm and is located at Unit 3 Greyfriars Way (behind MFI). Contact Steve Kean for details (T: 01785 619684, E: skean@staffordbc.gov.uk).

·        Fones 4 Schools: This scheme asks schools to encourage pupils to bring in old mobile phones for reuse or recycling. The scheme will give the school £300 for every 200 phones donated as well as a prize for each pupil depending on how many phones they bring in. Prizes range from a football to televisions. It is a really easy way to raise money for the school, get old phones reused and win some prizes for the kids. Visit www.fones4schools.co.uk for details.

Date of Next Meeting:

Thurs 17^th March 2005, 4:15pm, Weston Road High School

For more information on Eco-schools contact Sam Pickles Tel: 01785 619686

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