Craigclowan Preparatory School Regional Winner 2023, Green Creators - Scotland & Northern Ireland

The Craigclowan Biodiversity Trail is a 12 - point trail around the grounds of Craigclowan School, which turned into a whole school project and is a complete reflection on how pupils and staff worked together as a team.  Forms 1 and 2- painted bird houses which were placed along the route of the trail, in appropriate trees. Form 3 researched and created habitat information frames and made bird houses which were placed in and around the outdoor classroom. Forms 4 and 5 created birds and bird nest sculptures in Art classes, and bug hotels in the forest school area.  Form 6 made bug houses and bird houses in CDT, large art installations for "the shady wall" and information frames about native bees and insects which were placed along the trail.  They also helped to plant the wildlife hedgerow at the top of the walled garden.  Form 7 identified the 12 key areas of interest regarding their biodiversity which then formed this trail.  They created information points explaining  why these areas had been selected and what you might see in that area. 

The MELISSA Club (the school's gardening club) and Form Six planned  "Bee-friendly Wildlife Garden".  This was planted up by the children, who also helped build a pergola, dig out a bog garden, planted 5 fruit trees and planted many pollinator friendly plants.  The MELISSA club also took care of the lavender beds which they had planted in 2021, weeding and watering them. A map and a leaflet about the trail was produced and translated into four different languages.

Craigclowan Prep School's entry consisted of a great video, presented by the children, which explained the Biodiversity Trail.