Sarah Watterson-Griffiths, Head of Art at The Buchan School,Castletown, Isle of Man said teachers and pupils are proud to call The Buchan an eco-school.

Mrs Watterson-Griffiths explained: ‘The Buchan actively runs a range of eco activities and ensures its pupils are fully aware of issues such as the human impact on the environment, animal welfare, smart (ethically responsible) shopping, buying only cruelty free products, reuse and recycle and the use of natural resources, to name but a few.

‘We feel that children of the 21st century should be proactive, compassionate, responsible, appreciative and aware, in order that they can help to reverse the negative impact humans are having on our planet and the environment and to help prevent animal cruelty in all its forms.

‘We also feel it is essential that children are educated to value and protect nature, wildlife, and our resources, and be able to make positive, good decisions on a daily basis that in turn have a positive impact for the good of all.’

‘I’d  like to thank Dawn Dickens, the Manx Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Education Officer, for coming into the school several times a year to provide lectures to the the children and support our eco-school initiatives.’

‘I have worked with pupils from The Buchan School over several years and their ethos as regards the natural world and wildlife is absolutely commendable.The knowledge that the children absorb and utilise is demonstrated in conversations with the pupils and their actions inside and outside school,’ said Dawn.

‘Through artwork, craftwork, field trips, assemblies and also talks which the Manx Wildlife Trust has helped with, the children are brought closer to the natural world, its importance and the pleasure it can bring. It’s a great introduction to the importance of caring for our world in a lively, meaningful and stimulating way, as well as the incredible biodiversity we have on the Island.’

Some of the initiatives undertaken by The Buchan eco-school include:

• Vegetable Garden
• Vegetable and fruit from garden ( which is all organic) is used in school lunches
• Eco assemblies and talks – topics including wildlife care, Beach Buddies, plastic and the environment, cruelty-free shopping, hedgehog and wild bird care, reuse and recycle
• Bee hives - the importance of bees
• Honey production, beeswax products
• Paper recycling - all our paper is collected and recycled by our Eco Warrior prefects
• House plant maintenance in school
• Litter collection in school and the grounds 
• School eco signage – to save water and electricity!

*Art projects and competitions using only recycled objects

• Wild bird feeding programme
• Arts enterprise – making and selling arts and crafts products,proceeds donated to the World Wildlife Fund
• The Art and Design department makes bird houses, insect hotels and hedgehog houses for use on the Island
• Tree planting (KWC/Buchan groundsmen)
• Wood maintenance
• Staffroom waste composting

 We also use 100% recycled exercise books that also help save Rhinos!

I truly hope that if I do one good thing as a teacher in my life. It is to have taught children to be pro-active, care for animals and the environment and to have raised awareness and educated pupils, staff and parents of our absolute responsibilities to all living things.