Muscliff chose to do the 'School Grounds and Environment' Unit. They were encouraged to do this because last year the school had gained second place in the Bournemouth in Bloom for schools award. Every class had potted up a basket or pot. In addition they had planted 500 bulbs for a competition run by Golden Acres. They also wanted to improve the school grounds to make it a more useable teaching resource - it is currently used for PE outside in the summer and for playtime, but their aim is to improve it for wildlife so it can be used within the curriculum. There is already a pond, which was built when the school was built 4 years ago. This lies within an enclosed wildlife area, which needs to be cleared and made more useable and accessible. The Headteacher Mrs Carole Roscoe - is also very committed to the environment.

The School has set up its Green Team which comprises the green team co-ordinator Sarah Perkins, the caretaker Andy Vann, the admin officer Kate Parish, a governor and parents.

The practical targets which the school wants to achieve include improving the grounds for wildlife. Part of this will include developing the wildlife area and pond. The area is already surrounded by hedging of native species and contains mainly alder and birch inside. There are plans drawn up to develop a 'garden of the 5 senses' which will include planting for smells, touches, textures, etc. Much of this work will be done with the recently formed Gardening Club. This is run by Andy Vann and Kate Parish. Currently 40 pupils are signed up, so half go on alternate weeks.

They have put up bat boxes, bird boxes and bird tables from the RSPB. The school has also involved the community and parents in the project. The school wanted to create a raised bed for growing vegetables. The parents were invited to come in via a newsletter, and help make this one weekend, and several turned up to help shift sleepers and soil and gravel. A comment overheard from Christian, a year 3 student, was 'cor this is better than watching live and kicking!' which goes to show the personal and social benefits that a project like this can have. There was a marked difference in the students that had come in at the weekend to help too. They were very proud that they had been and done it, and helped to build it, and told the others who looked on in awe. The bed is being planted with potatoes, onions and other vegetables by the gardening club.

Other practical improvements which the school have made to improve the school grounds and environment include providing shelter and seating areas for the students at break time. There are playground markings and a mural on a wall, but this is about to be redone in the summer, and the children were given an opportunity to say what they wanted to see painted on it. The painting is going to be supervised by Amy Parish, Kate's daughter. There is balancing play equipment as well as stepping stones and boats to play in. The playground is well zoned to provide quiet areas for sitting in, and there is a 'craze of the week' area. This is an area which is fenced off and a class at a time can use it. The crazes may be skipping, stilts, scooters, chalking. Some of the equipment has been funded by Friends of the School.

The curriculum targets will include making more use of the school grounds in their teaching. They will use the grounds for science, in particular for 'improving the environment' unit.

The caretaker AndyVann, is very keen and has been enormously supportive and enthusiastic about the whole project.

There has also been a lot of work to improve the school environment which works towards the 'Waste' Unit of the Award. Every classroom has a paper bin and a non paper bin. The school recycles a lot of materials e.g. cans, plastic, normal waste and compost waste. 2 composters can be seen next to the raised beds. Fruit peelings, tea bags, school waste are all placed in these. The team are in the process of setting up a wormery. The recycling has reduced the nomal waste by 65%. As it costs £400 to empty a paladin, this has saved the school money. Palettes from the builders who are building an extension to the school, have been used to make bird boxes, and gravel from the site was used to provide drainage etc in the raised bed. Old tiles found when building the extension were used to make the base of a new greenhouse. Lunch box waste is taken home. Andy purchases degradable black and white bags and paper towels are made from recycled paper.

The aim now is to set the curriculum targets and achieve them and ultimately get the environment onto the school development plan.