Following the exciting news over the summer that Queen’s College Preparatory School has been awarded the Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction, recent Eco Week celebrations provided a wonderful opportunity to build on that achievement and further embed environmental awareness and sustainability throughout school life.
Years 1 to 6 enjoyed a fantastic visit to Chiswick House and Gardens, where they took part in an engaging 'From Seed to Spoon' workshop. Activities included exploring the Kitchen Garden, identifying and tasting seasonal produce, making herbal tea using ingredients they had picked themselves, and harvesting vegetables and leaves to create delicious couscous garden salads. It was a brilliant hands-on experience that helped the girls better understand where food comes from and the importance of sustainable growing.
Meanwhile, pupils in the Early Years Foundation Stage embraced the outdoors with a nature walk in Regent's Park, where they enjoyed exploring the changing seasons and hunting for conkers. These early experiences connecting with the natural world are invaluable in fostering curiosity, appreciation and care for the environment.
One of the highlights of the week was the planting of bulbs by every girl in the school on the Terrace. Armed with some of the tools and equipment generously provided through the school’s Local Nature Grant, the girls planted a variety of bulbs including crocus, narcissus, tulips, ipheion, allium and muscari. These bulbs promise to provide a spectacular riot of colour in the springtime when they come into bloom.
Eco Week has also inspired some wonderful artistic creativity. Year 1 girls explored the work of Kandinsky before listening to Rimsky-Korsakov's ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’, using the music and nature as inspiration for their colourful abstract paintings. Years 2 and 3 created beautiful bird collages and vibrant paint-pen flowers, while Year 6 transformed the Terrace with chalk illustrations of plants and animals.
Eco Week has been a wonderful reminder that even small actions can make a big difference, and we are incredibly proud of all that has been achieved.