Belhaven plants native woodland to celebrate its Centenary and join the Queen’s Green Canopy.
Mr Olly Langton, Headmaster at Belhaven Hill School, is keen to ensure environmental issues are part of the curriculum. That’s why the East Lothian school has planted a native woodland, become a plastics-free school and just updated its sustainability policy.
Belhaven was nominated a runner-up for an Eco Warrior Award in the Tatler Schools Awards 2023 for prep schools that have gone green and champion environmentally-friendly initiatives.
“If there’s an overarching ambition, it’s to make sure that looking after the environment is given more importance by our pupils than it was for our generation,” says Mr Langton.
“I acknowledge the challenges involved, particularly for a school that is 100 years old and will be celebrating its centenary in 2023, but we are constantly working to improve our approach to the environment.
“One of the most important aspects of our vision for Belhaven is that our pupils should learn to shape the world around them. Our school curriculum combines cutting-edge digital skills with heightened awareness of the environment by learning outdoors - we hope that the children educated at Belhaven will be both willing and able to make decisions that change the world for the better.”
To support this, Belhaven has developed a new Sustainability Policy with four key aims:
To minimise the procurement and use of non-renewable and environmentally unfriendly resources (which includes any property improvements).
To raise awareness among pupils and staff about key environmental issues, and, by doing so, encourage them to take an active role in environmental projects.
To develop relationships with external organisations to promote environmentally friendly behaviour.
To encourage and inspire children and staff to participate in public initiatives such as Green Flag awards and other projects that will educate and inform best practice.
The decision to change the school’s lighting to LEDs in 2023 addresses the first aim of this policy. The decision to plant a woodland with native saplings addresses the other three objectives.
“The native saplings were locally sourced from Cheviot Trees, and consist of a mixture of Beech, Oak, Silver Birch, Crab Apple and Aspen,” continues Olly Langton. “The design of the plantation sees the trees curve towards a focal point, lined along a winding path between two gates built into a deer-fenced rectangle.
“In the south-east corner, a mound of earth will provide a look-out point and guard a camping area for the children. The site is blessed with one of the best views in East Lothian over the Bass Rock and Tantallon Castle. The land itself, the crucial first ingredient, has been generously donated to the school by the McNicol family at Castleton Farm, North Berwick.
“Every child in the school was given his or her own sapling and instructions on how to plant it. Passing the spade down the line after use, the children dug a hole, inserted the sapling and replaced the soil around the tree before protecting it with a tree-guard attached to a wooden stake. These stakes were then named (some very extravagantly!) as everyone took ownership of their part in a collaborative project.”
The new native woodland creates an area for observation and education which will grow over the decades.
Mr Langton adds: “Coming, as it does, at the end of the Platinum Jubilee year for the late Queen, the decision to plant the wood at the start of the 2022-23 planting season was inspired by a conversation with Pauline Jaffray, one of East Lothian’s Deputy Lord Lieutenants until she passed away from cancer in summer 2022.
“The influence of these two ladies on those under their care was remarkable, so the woodland will be dedicated as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, something for which Pauline was a great advocate.”
“Partnerships with local schools and wildlife organisations to allow for combined use of this area will enhance Belhaven pupils’ education as well as adding to the thriving community spirit,” concludes Mr Langton. “As part of our stated aim and our cherished status as a Green Flag and eco-friendly school, this project has enormous potential and is something of which everyone involved should feel extremely proud.”
You can learn more about Belhaven Hill School on their website.