Rewilding the School Run: Turner Free School Thinks Big
Imagine looking around your school and thinking, "This could be so much wilder."
That's exactly what happened at Turner Free School.
What began as a small Blue Influencers group quickly grew into one of the school's most popular environmental projects, with participation increasing from just a handful of students to more than 30 enthusiastic young people. It turns out that talking about saving the planet is surprisingly contagious.
Students explored everything from hidden rivers and plastic pollution to local democracy, even welcoming Folkestone & Hythe District Councillors into school to hear their ideas. After all, if you have good ideas, why not tell the people who can help make them happen?
A visit to Samphire Hoe inspired even more ambitious thinking. Pond dipping, mini-beast hunting and exploring local habitats encouraged students to see wildlife from a whole new perspective.
Back at school, those ideas became reality. Pupils started conversation to plan rewilding area complete with bird boxes, butterfly hotels, mini-beast habitats and proposals for an above-ground wildlife pond. Young Carers joined the practical sessions, showing that environmental action is something everyone can be part of.
The finished habitats were proudly showcased during the school's Eco Day, where more than 400 visitors celebrated what the students across Turner Schools have achieved.
The project showed that changing the world doesn't always require travelling very far. Sometimes all it takes is looking at your own school grounds and asking, "What if nature lived here too?"