Dicky Birds, Pelham Road Achieves their Eco-Schools Green Flag!

The team at Dicky Birds Day Nursery & Preschool on Pelham Road are thrilled to announce that they have recently achieved their Eco-School Green Flag Accreditation, becoming the first Wimbledon Common Eco-School!

This is fantastic achievement for the team, as it shows their dedication to taking their steps to making our planet earth a better and greener place to live. By implementing a sustainable practice, they have been able to become a more eco-friendly nursery by teaching the next generation in Wimbledon Common about environmental education.

At Grandir UK, we couldn’t be prouder of our nursery and their commitment to make our world a better place!

What is the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award?

The Eco-Schools Organisation is a world wide initiative that provides a structured framework for different educational institutions to promote environmental awareness and sustainability within their school and local community. The program operates in over 60 countries and supports young people at nursery to junior school, and those at secondary school all the way to college to make their practice more sustainable.

To achieve the Green Flag Accreditation, school provisions much meet a set criteria that shows pupils commitment to tackling climate change, environmental education, and community involvement. The Green Flag Award is the highest honour in the Eco-Schools program and acknowledges schools and nurseries that have taken action to encourage and implement change within their setting; whether that’s taking part in forest school sessions, planted flowers that attract nature or engaged their local community to make them aware how everyone can make eco-friendly changes at home.

Dicky Birds, Pelham Road: Their Journey to Green Flag Success

Dicky Birds Day Nursery on Pelham Road in the Wimbledon Common have been truly committed to improving the environment within their surroundings. By teaching their young people about how to look after nature, they have given them the skills to make our world a better place later on in life.

A part of achieving their Eco-Schools accreditation, was to set up an Eco-Committee, consisting of four dedicated children and three supportive adults. This committee has been instrumental in moving forward environmental initiatives and awareness, and developing their own leadership skills for later on in life. The Eco-Committee took charge of completing the Eco-Schools Environmental Review, assessing the nursery’s current environmental impact and identifying areas for improvement for the future.

Here’s what they did to create change:

Eco-Communication Plan

The Eco-Committee did an amazing job of putting together an action plan of clear, achievable goals of what they wanted to carry out at their nursery. The Eco-Committee developed a range of creative ideas, such as sending out regular news updates to parents on the benefits of exercise for physical and mental health, organising community litter-picking trips around Wimbledon Common to make their local park space cleaner, and held group discussions with the other nursery children to promote more eco-friendly ways to travel to nursery.

Outdoor Eco-Education

The nursery team and Eco-Committee committed a lot of their curriculum to environmental education. The nursery teachers implemented Grandir UK’s Sow & Grow program to teach children how to grow plants and produce in their own gardens, encouraging outdoor learning. The nursery also implements forest school sessions with a forest school trained teacher to explore education about the natural world and how best to look after our planet. This outdoor education has done wonders to teach the importance of caring for living things so they can thrive and increase biodiversity on our planet.

Engaging the Local Community

The Eco-Committee didn’t just stop at improving their nursery setting, they also engaged and encouraged members of the Wimbledon Common community to get involved with their aim and efforts. By using newsletters, hosting regular parent talks, and creating plans to join the local park committee, the nursery ensured that each and every child and adult in the area was a part of their sustainability mission. The nursery is super grateful to the parents and members of community who contributed to this project to make our planet a better place for the future!

Lisa Sheridan, Nursery Manager at Dicky Birds, Pelham Road, says…

“I’m so proud of our Eco-Committee and all the children and adults who were involved in this project! They have truly shown how committed we are to looking after our environment and making our nursery a more eco-friendly place to be.

Seeing the children’s enthusiasm for learning about the environment, taking part in our forest school sessions, and developing those skills to be more eco-friendly and mindful individuals for the future, has been an inspirational experience! I want to thank everyone who has been involved with this process and I’m excited to see what more we can do to make our nursery more sustainable as we look forward.”

Book a Visit to Our Eco-Friendly Dicky Birds Nursery on Pelham Road Today!

If you’re looking for a nursery and preschool that puts sustainability at the heart of everything they do, then our Dicky Birds Day Nursery & Preschool in Wimbledon Common may be the perfect place for you and your child. Book a visit today to meet our staff team, discuss our environmental actions we take, discuss the funding option available to you and ask any questions you may have. Let’s grow together!