Notting Hill & Ealing Junior School in Ealing recently hosted its first eco summit, bringing together over 90 students from eight primary schools in the area. The summit aimed to educate students about sustainability and climate action, as well as provide a platform for them to discuss ways to combat climate change.
Ashleigh Cassar, NHEHS’s Environment and Sustainability Lead, expressed her excitement about the event, stating, “Having the opportunity to bring together our local community, to share our knowledge and ideas surrounding climate action, has been the highlight of my year. The girls and boys of Ealing have truly shown they are an inspiration for our future and I am excited to see where they go next.”
Students from various primary schools participated in different workshops throughout the day. In the gardening workshop, they learned about increasing biodiversity within schools and the importance of planting according to the seasons. They also had the chance to experience different environments through VR headsets, comparing Arctic, savanna, deserts, rainforests, and oceans.
Additionally, students engaged in a drama workshop where they portrayed future scenarios related to single-use plastics in dramatic scenes. In the STEM workshop, they built solar-powered robots and discussed the potential impact of renewable energy on the world.
One of the highlights of the summit was Digby Wheeler’s presentation on the Ealing Beaver Project at Paradise Fields by Horsenden Hill. This project aims to create the UK’s first publicly-accessible urban beaver site, showcasing the importance of conservation and biodiversity in urban areas.
The eco summit not only provided students with valuable knowledge and skills but also fostered a sense of community and collaboration among schools in Ealing. By coming together to discuss and explore ways to address climate change, these young students are taking important steps towards a more sustainable future for themselves and the planet.
