February Newsletter
Hello Eco-Coordinator,
With spring just around the corner, it’s the perfect moment to start bringing your outdoor projects to life! From encouraging outdoor learning to creating habitats that support local wildlife, outdoor projects give young people the chance to build new skills and connect with nature… and at Eco-Schools, we’re especially looking forward to seeing the creativity, passion, and positive impacts you’ll bring to your outdoor projects in 2026. Read on to find out about lots of ideas and events that can be used in your Eco-Schools activities.
Great Big School Clean 2026
This year’s campaign runs from Friday 13th March to Sunday 29th March 2026, and it’s the perfect way to get pupils outdoors while making a visible difference in your community. Since the campaign began in 2016, more than 4.5 million bags of litter have been removed from streets, beaches, parks, and green spaces. From 13th February, you can register for this year’s campaign via the link above and help make 2026 the biggest Great Big School Clean yet.
Count Your Carbon: First Statistics Report
We’re delighted to share our first-ever Count Your Carbon statistics report.This inaugural report brings together data from more than 1,600 schools across England, offering insights into average carbon footprints by setting type and location. It also highlights which areas of school life contribute most to overall emissions, because identifying the biggest sources of emissions is the essential first step toward reducing them. Find out more by clicking the link above!
Eco-Schools Activity Pathways
Schools, if you’re looking for inspiration to kickstart your Eco-Schools Green Flag activity, don’t forget to explore our new resource: Activity Pathways. Each pathway includes a ready‑to‑go project, a linked learning opportunity, and a simple monitoring method. Click the link above to check it out!
Eco-Themed Learning Activities
Our Eco‑Themed Learning Activities resource offers 60+ age‑appropriate ideas for weaving eco‑issues into early years learning. Each activity includes a description and guidance on cost and ease of delivery. Click the link above to explore the resource and fast track your activity.
Eco-Projects: Create a Mural from Recycled Plastics
This month’s spotlight Eco‑Project is creating a mural from recycled plastics. This activity highlights how our plastic habits affect the ocean and the incredible life within it, while also showing the power of creative expression as a tool for change. It’s a great reminder that there are many ways to make a difference, and art has been one of them throughout human history.
Don’t forget we have nine more Eco‑Projects for you to explore when you log in to your Eco‑Schools account, start an application, and head to the Step 3 resources.
What Else is Happening?
- Curious how Eco‑Schools and the National Education Nature Park work together? Highfield Primary School in Bolton shows how the pupil‑led Eco‑Schools approach, paired with the Nature Park’s focus on school grounds, empowered students to create a thriving new woodland area. Explore the case study to see how both programmes can complement each other and inspire meaningful, student‑driven change.
- SOS UK are looking for secondary schools in Bristol and Nottingham to join their Future Schools Project. The initiative brings together teachers, operational staff, higher‑education students, and building works teams to create learning experiences linked to retrofit works taking place on site. Whatever stage you’re at in your retrofit journey, you can take part. Contact SOS UK to get involved at no cost to your school.
- Catch up on the Plastic Clever Schools World Environmental Education Day Roundtable by watching the recording. During the event, environmental experts (including Eco‑Schools) share practical, creative ways to bring sustainability into the classroom and explore the future of eco‑education in schools.
- Conservation expert and Eco‑Schools favourite Sarah Roberts has a new book coming out! Wild Apprentice explores some of the planet’s wildest jobs, from jungle expeditions to deep‑sea diving. To celebrate its release, Sarah will host a live session on Wednesday 4th March at 10am, sharing stories from her career protecting wildlife around the world and offering advice for young people dreaming of their own wild careers.
- Sheffield Hallam University and The Wildlife Trusts are looking for secondary schools to share their thoughts and opinions on outdoor learning. Completing the survey only takes 10 minutes and your input will be used to help create flexible, evidence-based CPD programmes that will support educators across all kinds of secondary schools. Click here to participate.
- Learning Through Landscapes’ Local School Nature Grants are back for 2026! Applications are open until Friday 13th March. Successful schools receive staff training in outdoor learning, a school‑grounds climate survey, a climate curriculum kit, and £500 worth of outdoor equipment chosen from a catalogue of 100+ items.
- Surrey schools have until 12th February to book a place at Surrey County Council’s Eco Summit 2026. Held on 10th March at the WWF Living Planet Centre or 20th March at Surrey County Council’s Woodhatch building, this year’s summit focuses on climate resilience, with speakers, workshops, competitions, and hands‑on activities.
- Join the Climate Ambassadors online on 9th February, 9th March, or 15th April at 16:45 to learn about their free support available through the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy. The session will show how Climate Ambassadors can help you develop your Climate Action Plan and explain how to access their support.
- Next Week, 9th Feb, is Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme is ‘This is My Place’ and it aims to help all young people feel they belong. Head to the Place2Be website to show your support and download activities and resources.
- Growing Together is a new programme from The Tree Council and you can register your interest in becoming a pilot school for the project. The project aims to double the number of tree nurseries in the UK, giving pupils hands‑on opportunities to learn about nature, climate, and community while helping grow the nation’s future trees.
