Autumn 2011 - Summer 2012                           

Our aim is to foster respect for the environment and compassion for living things; to enhance understanding of different cultures and to inspire all students to take certain actions that will make the world a better place for animals, people and the environment.     

Our 'One World' Roots and Shoots campaign continues with projects that concern animals, people and the environment. 

A shining example  

One of the many benefits of being a Green Flag EcoSchool is that we get offers, and when we were offered the chance to obtain more free solar panels we jumped at the chance. So Mr Coombes arranged for the installation of a second large array of solar photovoltaic panels to be mounted on the roof of the hall and gym over half term. Our 63 new panels will generate 14.8kW and will save 7880 kg of CO₂ pa.  

We have had a link to the ‘Save our Solar’ campaign, strongly supported by EcoSchools, for the past year. Thanks to everyone who has supported this campaign: this includes students in the energy group, and those of you who have responded directly through the website. Proof once again that actions add up and that you’re never too small to make a difference!  

Although a little premature, our talk from Matthew Knight was a highly appropriate lead-in to CLIMATE WEEK.  

Students learnt about the reasons for current interest in offshore wind farms; the idea that fossil fuels are running out gives an economic imcentive. Fossil fuels' contribution to global warming and climate change as a result of the carbon emissions associated with their burning gives an environmental imperative.  In addition, windy UK is ideally placed for wave, wind and tidal energy.

Students were shown current plans for offshore wind and learnt a little about building a wind turbine and how exactly it catches the wind. They were shown how foundations were built in the sea and how connections are made inland. While photographs made this look easy,w e heard that it takes at least 7 years to build a wind farm.

The controversy surrounding wind farms, including the proposal to create a farm in the western Solent, was discussed although no-one in the large audience was opposed to their development at all. In the context of Navitus Bay, the local proposal, students considered how the media is capable of influencing public views, and by their use of clever graphics, sometimes distorting the truth.

Mr Knight helpfully supplied a list of careers that will be available in the renewables industry and recommended websites. These will be interest to all students and will be particularly valuable to geography students. He left us with his excellent Powerpoint which students can now access in school.

Those most supportive of wind farms are women with chidlren, and those most opposed to them are elderly men! Students were reminded of Prince Philip's outspoken attack on wind farms, branding them ‘absolutely useless’. In comments that put him sharply at odds with the Government, the Prince reportedly said the farms were a ‘disgrace’ and they would never work. 

In the light of this information, students were therefore amused by the news that the Royal Family have secured a lucrative deal that will earn them tens of millions of pounds from the massive expansion of offshore windfarms.  They will net up to £37.5 million extra income every year from the drive for green energy because the seabed within Britain’s territorial waters is owned by the Crown Estate. Read more here.

Last summer, a large group of students helped to remove a big area of Himalayan Balsam, a highly invasive species, from Docken’s Water, near Blashford. We will repeat this community conservation work next July with a new group of students. In preparation, Joanne Gore of Hampshire Wildlife Trust, gave the wildlife group a fascinating talk about the problems of invasive plant species in the New Forest.

Sam and Katie with invasive species that were passed round in containers, allowing students to identify aliens.

Students learnt of the different problems imposed by Giant Hemlock, Japanese Knotweed, Skunk Cabbage, Crassula, and Himalayan Balsam. Most were introduced as exotic and attractive species for gardens, but having subsequently gone out of control they out-compete our native species. Focus shifted towards the Balsam, and students learnt how easily the seeds are spread and are carried down the river valleys in which they will ‘pull’.  

Jo returned a second time on the only snowy school day of the winter (left). Students tried to view the Crassula that has invaded our pond but it lay beneath several centimetres of ice and snow! Students learnt of the different methods that have been trialled in the New Forest Crassula remobval project, such as chemical treatments, coloured dyes, manual removal, liquid nitrogen, photosynthesis blockers and we plan to run our Crassula removal scheme with the help of HWT.  IDEAS needed. What shall we try?

RSPB BIRDWATCH

Clear skies and a cold frosty morning promised an interesting late January Birdwatch for thirty students. Our site is dominated with species such as pied wagtails and house sparrows, and we have few woodland species. However, we were pleased to find Goldcrests in our pond area.  While there were few surprises, Birdwatch provides each generation of students with an opportunity to learn something different and to then apply their skills.  

Overseen by an excellent team of sixth formers, students learnt the difference between various types of gull, between a dunnock and a house sparrow, and between a crow and a raven or a rook. They went on to record the greatest number of individuals of one species seen at any one point in time; a difficult concept for some!

Some of our students are evaluators of RSPB educational materials, so Katie, Samantha Kimberley and Rose trialled a novel game for them. This  illustrates energy losses in food chains (see below). The experience, much enjoyed by all, gavea real educational 'extra' and made a fitting conclusion to Birdwatch 2012.

Students were treated to an extremely interesting talk given by Dr Tony Gent, Chief Executive Officer of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. We learnt that ARC manages  about 1700ha of nature reserves – about 2/3^rd in Dorset and most of the rest in Surrey/ Sussex and East Hampshire; most are heathland.  Some are close to, but not actually in, Ringwood, with the nearest being Verwood, Ferndown and just down the A338 just outside Bournemouth.

Left: sand lizard and palmate newt

Students learnt about threats to reptiles and amphibians, about the importance of conserving them and about ARC's work. The highlight for many was hearing about the animals themselves and Dr Gent showed students wonderful images, and left us with some very welcome information.

ARC has an excellent website with a plethora od resources at http://www.arc-trust.org/.  Here you can find details of the different species, or information about a great new app for iPad or iPhone.   You can also download a superb reptile identification poster here and a snakes poster here   Try HOP GOSSIP too. ARC has joined forces with Pond Conservation and Amphibian & Reptile Groups of UK (ARGUK) to launch the Big Spawn Count 2012! This is something that our students will definitely be joining in with.

We hope to have a either have a second visit from ARC, or to visit dome of the conservation sites,  when the animals are out of hibernation.

Eighty students enjoyed a great experience courtesy of Liberty’s Reptiles and Raptors Centre. Jason Bridges, a former Ringwood student, brought in three birds to the delight of our youngsters; a Great Grey owl, and Eagle Owl and a Peregrine Falcon, the fastest bird on the planet. Jason’s talk was superb and he held the attention of students for 25 minutes as he listed facts and described the unique features of the birds’ physiology and ecology. His knowledge and expertise were impressive, and he was able to answer a battery of quick fire questions from youngsters at the end of his talk. The highlight for many was being able to get close to the birds, and when shown how to do so, many enjoyed touching the beautiful eagle owl. We are enormously grateful to Liberty’s for this wonderful experience, and to Year 13 student, Rosie Brooks for organising the visit.

A visit from Haines

We have recently collected 80 mobile phones for Guide Dogs UK. Given that the lifetime cost of a guide dog is around £50,000, the money that Guide Dogs gains from this is well received. We are very grateful to all parents, students and carers for their generosity, and hope that you will continue to support this work.

Students who are keen recyclers, together with students in the wildlife group, were delighted to meet Haines, a golden Labrador/Retriever cross puppy, currently undergoing training in the competent hands of puppy trainer Pat Canning. Pat explained to students that she had trained a dozen puppies before handing them over to the Guide Dogs for the Blind assocation. They then charge the new owner who will be visually impaired, the princely sum of £1! 

Students learnt that for the blind or partially sighted, a guide dog can change lives. They listened attentively while Pat explained how dogs are matched to owners and were particularly interested to hear what a guide dog does.

Labrador/golden retriever crosses make up 47% of Guide Dogs, with Labradors making up 31%. Other breeds such as German Shepherds make up the remainder. Haines’ training is going well and it appears that he will make a very good Guide Dog.

A  mild start and the warmest April on record, led many butterflies to emerge weeks ahead of their normal dates. Some threatened species, such as the Grizzled Skipper and Pearl-bordered Fritillary, were seen in surprisingly large numbers in the Spring sunshine.

In contrast, most summer-flying species struggled to survive. It was the coldest summer for 18 years. The Big Butterfly Count results revealed that numbers of common butterflies were down. This population dip will have resulted in fewer eggs being laid, which may have a knock-on effect for summer 2012.

Autumn brought a reprieve for our beleaguered butterflies, with many native species able to extend their flight periods or squeeze in an extra brood, as well as the arrival of marvellous migrant moths and butterflies from southern Europe. Red Admirals were everywhere during the second warmest autumn ever recorded and continued flying into mid-December.

The weather is a matter of life or death for butterflies and 2011 will have left plenty of winners and losers in its wake. We’ll know the full picture in March when all of the data from Butterfly Conservation’s monitoring programmes has been analysed. With the Met Office reluctant to make any predictictions about what lies ahead, we will have to wait and see if this year brings the warm July we are well overdue. Our summer butterflies could really do with a boost.

The Large Blue: Back in Britain

After a period of dramatic decline, the Large Blue butterfly became extinct in Britain in 1979. Remarkably, it has risen from the ashes thanks to a long-term project backed by Butterfly Conservation. 

The recovery has been almost 30 years in the making, after Large Blues were reintroduced back into Britain from healthy colonies in Scandinavia. It has involved painstaking scientific research, led by Butterfly Conservation's Vice-President, Professor Jeremy Thomas, to uncover their bizarre lifecycle - caterpillars live underground in a specific species of ants’ nests, eating their grubs. The Large Blue has made fantastic progress, particularly in the Polden Hills, Somerset, where the butterfly's recolonisation is considered to be one of the world's most notable conservation successes. The future for the Large Blue looks bright, but only if the programme of intensive habitat restoration, site management and reintroductions can continue, and that relies on funding. You can directly help to secure a lasting future for the Large Blue by contributing to our Large Blue appeal.

Look out for: Red Admiral

Catching a glimpse of a big, bold and beautiful Red Admiral at this time of year is not as unusual as it used to be.

Twenty years ago Red Admirals were an incredibly rare sight in the UK during winter, preferring to migrate south to the Mediterranean in autumn. They now stay here all-year-round and are the most commonly sighted winter butterfly by far. This dramatic shift is likely to be at least partly due to climate change and milder winters.

2011's mild autumn should ensure that there are plenty of Red Admirals to brighten the short winter days over the coming weeks.

Ellie, Anna, Grace and Rosie gave a superb presentation at the National Fairtrade conference held at the Universitry of Aston last November.  After visiting the Fairtrade marketplace, they were able to spend time talking to students from other schools, to Fairtrade producers and to those in the Fairtrade movement. They listened to inspiring speeches and finally enjoyed a workshop where they learnt some T-shirt design techniques.  They were keen to share their skills with others and plan a Fairtarde t-shirt design session later this year.  Miss Adams kindly donated some old RNLI 'Fun Run' t-shirts for design practice, so Grace, Anna and Ellie were joined by sixth formers and together they showed delighted students in the Fairtrade group how to get creative! Having practised, students intend to buy Fairtrade t-shirts for the next event!  

Students baked cookies, muffins, cakes and other goodies for our breaktime Fairtrade Christmas Fair in early December. Others bought small items such as Fairtrade chocolate bars to sell. This was the first big Fairtrade event of the year that involved the whole school and was an opportunity for the Year 7 Fairtraders to work alongside older and more experienced Fairtraders.

Some students listed the Fairtrade ingredients they had used in their cooking. Other culinary highlights included Mrs Attwill's chocolate cake (below) Sam's and Katy's 'stained glass windows' biscuits displayed on a Christmas tree (above), and a chocolate fountain into which fruit or marshmallows could be dipped. 

Cakes, the chocolate fountain and Dubble bars were popular with students, while members of staff were grateful that healthy fruit was also on offer.  

Thank you to all everyone who made, brought or bought items for our fair, and Waitrose and Sainsbury who both generously donated bananas.

GRAVEL GARDEN

When students won the 2010 WOW Awards, they enjoyed looking round the gardens of Clarence House in the afternoon and were impressed by a rather beautiful Beth Chatto gravel garden, created to withstand future climate change. It became the inspiration for a project at school that  has taken a year to fund. The garden has been designed to rely on minimal water and is planted with many drought tolerant plants. Students were careful to choose only those plants that would also attract wildlife such as lavender, thyme, marjoram and buddleia. They also planted some species that are commonly found in the New Forest. This proved to be challneging as the area is not currently assocaited with drought!  However, after much research, suitable plants were chosen.  We are now well into the project and a major planting session took place on a day when the heavens opened. The photo shows some of Ringwood's very strong gardening group in slightly drier conditions.

Work continues on a water feature and on a plaque that will be designed by students.

PLANTING THE JANE GOODALL ROSE AT COMPTON ACRES

The sunshine and unexpected warmth of a late November afternoon could not have been better. At Compton Acres gardens, tantalising glimpses of the sparkling waters of Poole harbour could be seen through the trees, and the mellow light showed up the last autumnal leaves of the Japanese maples at their very best.

Rosie, Aidan, Laura and Katy were here for another purpose, to meet Dr Jane Goodall who was planting a new rose named after Jane Goodall. It was created this May by Christian Hanak and Guillaume Didier of La Roseraie of Val-de-Marne. It is said to be a climbing rose with intense perfume and good disease resistance. Its pink flowers eventually reveal an orange heart.

The planting took place at the foot of a Scots Pine tree in the Wooded Valley (seen above). The site had been carefully chosen by the owner of Compton Acres and his principal gardener who were both present at the planting. Also present were the Mayor of Poole, the Mayor of Bournemouth, Christian Hanak, a representative from the Eden Project and from Heligan Gardens, Cornwall. We felt in distinguished company!

There was a second reason for our visit: to return the trophy to Jane Goodall that we won a year ago as leading Roots and Shoots group in UK. Sadly, we are not eligible to win this again this year although we have been given another Gold Award for our 2011 work. Jane spoke to all four students and she had especially warm words for Katy when she handed back the trophy.

ENERGY

The energy team has been active since gardening stopped  in early November (much later than usual thanks to a warm autumn). Students have started logging the output from our solar panels. Unfortunately, the display meter only shows how much electricity we have generated from the beginning, so sums have to be done! The group have also invited Mr Coombes in and have learnt a great deal about TRVs from him and from a short presentation http://heating.danfoss.com/PCMPDF/TRV_euro.swf These thermostatic radiator valves are now fitted im many rooms. A TRV allows someone to turn the thermostat down in one particular room when it heats excessively. Students have made stickers to remind staff to adjust their TRV when the room gets hot, rather than open their windows. Students have also learnt about the new thermally efficient windows that are being fitted throughout the school.

A group of eight Ringwood students from each year group gave a good presentation to Ringwood Rotray Club of the recycling initiatives at Ringwood School.  Mrs Attwill, who tracked our milk bottle tops to the recycling plant gave an excellent account of their journey from Ringwood to new products created from recycled milk bottle tops.  Rotarians were asked to help us and as always, people were asked to take all recyclables to reception, rather than droppiing outside. 

Below: students, Laura, Leon, Nuala, Sam, Kety and Aidan talk to members of the Rotary Club after the event

FUNGI IN THE FOREST

Several student members of our wildlife and biodiversity group, with their families, enjoyed a visit to the New Forest Reptile Centre.  There they met with members of the Hampshire Fungus Recording Group who led short fungal forays into the very wet but beautiful deciduous woodland. This was perfect weather for fungi! 

A breathtaking exhibition of freshly gathered local fungi had already been assembled in a large shed and microscopes were set up for everyone to observe spore formation. Excellent biology for students and member sof the public alike!

We heard that the most common question people ask when faced with an enormous display of fungi is, “Which ones are poisonous?” or “Which are edible?”  The Group’s superb exhibition of fungi lasted for four days and taught students learnt a great deal about the importance of fungi in decomposition.  The Recording Group will repeat the event next year, and it is highly recommended!   The website www.hampshirefungi.org.uk contains records and distribution maps with photos for individual species. Am idemtification booklet for common New Forest fungi can be downloaded here

Eight Ringwood students from different year groups joined five small village schools at Burley School for a day that focussed on sustainability and provided Inset training for their staff.  The students ran their own workshop showing people what can be done in a school. Using examples from Ringwood, they provided practical tips that allow students and staff to engage in the sustainability agenda and were much congratulated for their fine performance.

Jane Young, one of the principal event organisers said of the students, “To speak so confidently, passionately and to be so articulate in front of seventy adults is a credit to each and every one of you.  I heard many of the delegates speak so highly of your input.  You were models of inspirational leaders and you were a joy to have as part of our day.”

In the afternoon, students joined workshops for teachers.We were able to use a thermal imaging camera, an expensive device that shows up a building’s energy losses as cold spots. Teachers very much enjoyed some creative work with willow, joining students Grace and Laura in a weaving workshop that used not only willow but British native and garden species. Grace said, “The workshop taught me how beautiful and useful items can be made from natural resources, found in the forest. It was really interesting to see that you can go out, have fun, and have something to bring home all for free.”

Aidan and Anna learnt six ways of making a fire while out in the wild using materials ranging from a King Alfred’s Cake fungus to a battery.  Aidan feels pretty conficent in his ability to pass on his skills to others and conceded that he had a lot of fun. Anna reported, “I learnt that your fuel has to come from the dry branches of trees to make the fire 'work'; not just scooped from the ground like I originally assumed. However, the main thing that struck me with the fire workshop I did was how hard it was to keep the fire going once it was lit!”

Rosie, who does a great deal for the wildlife group at Ringwood, joined in a workshop designed to teach teachers how to use the outdoor environment for learning. Katy enjoyed a spot of den building in the woods and reckoned this was a very good team activity that she commends to the English Departement. It would, she says, good for writing mythical stories in English!  Samantha joined in with a ‘puppet workshop’ and while she was disappointed to find there were no puppets she did learn lots of skills that she’s keen to try out with a class of younger children. Grace and Laura  enjoyed a weaving workshop that used not only willow but British native and garden species. Grace said, “The workshop taught me how beautiful and useful items can be made from natural resources, found in the forest. It was really interesting to see that you can go out, have fun, and have something to bring home all for free.”

Students had a wonderful afternoon and at the end of the day enjoyed the warm glow of satisfaction associated with a job very well done.

Rosie, who does a great deal for the wildlife group at Ringwood, joined in a workshop designed to teach teachers how to use the outdoor environment for learning. Katy enjoyed a spot of den building in the woods and reckoned this was a very good team activity that she commends to the English Departement. It would, she says, good for writing mythical stories in English!  Samantha joined in with a ‘puppet workshop’ and while she was disappointed to find there were no puppets she did learn lots of skills that she’s keen to try out with a class of younger children. Grace and Laura  enjoyed a weaving workshop that used not only willow but British native and garden species. Grace said, “The workshop taught me how beautiful and useful items can be made from natural resources, found in the forest. It was really interesting to see that you can go out, have fun, and have something to bring home all for free.”

Students had a wonderful afternoon and at the end of the day enjoyed the warm glow of satisfaction associated with a job very well done. 

RINGWOOD STUDENTS’ WORKSHOP AT THE NATIONAL FAIRTRADE CONFERENCE, UNIVERSITY OF ASTON OCTOBER 15^th 2011

It was an exhilarating weekend for Ringwood students, Rosie, Grace, Ellie and Anna  (above) who ran a workshop session at the national Fairtrade conference in Birmingham on October 15^th.  As their first University experience, this Fairtrade weekend at the University of Aston would take some beating.

Before running their own workshop session, the Ringwood youngsters listened to the engaging celebrity chef, Allegra McEvedy, to the Director of Sainsbury’s and the genuinely inspiring Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of UK Fairtrade Foundation. Harriet announced that the Fairtrade bunting created by thousands of Fairtrade supporters, including Ringwood School, had finally broken the record for the world’s longest piece of bunting! (see below)

The Ringwood students spoke with authority and provided great insight into what young people at Ringwood School are doing about Fairtrade and trade justice issues.  Workshop delegates were not young people, but rather adults seeking to make other young people engage in the agenda and to pick up practical tips. The students provided plenty of those!  The four students met a highly enthusiastic response and answered searching questions from the large audience.    

Above: the four students with Joanna from the Fairtrade Foundation

Ringwood's workshop session was followed by a presentation from Youth for Fair Trade. This well funded group aims to train 30 young people in 2011 to be ambassadors of Fair Trade. The Coventry-based team is funded by the Department for International Development and made a good contrast to a school group running on a budget. The audience learnt about the excellent projects that young people involved in Youth for Fair Trade have been running.

Students met like-minded people from around the UK, explored new ideas, chatted with experts in the Fairtrade movement and sampled some great Fairtrade products in the crowded market place that allowed companies to showcase their Fairtrade products and campaigns.  

Above: students talk to a representative from People and Planet in the market place

Students knew that Fairtrade means farmers get a fair price for what they grow, but to hear this from a Fairtrade producer from the Windward Isles was rather different.  They learnt that the Fairtrade price is paid to farmers by the crop buyer and that is usually the company that brings the crop to the UK.  They learnt how Fairtrade helps to protect farmers’ health, bans child labour and makes sure everyone’s rights are protected. When farmers want to sell through Fairtrade they have to show the crop has been grown in a way that protects the environment so harmful chemicals are banned, water sources are protected from harmful chemicals and energy is saved where possible.  

Left: Fairtrade cotton was the focus for Fairtrade Fortnight 2011. The 'Say Pants to Poverty' stall in the market place gathered huge interest.

Harder to understand was the Fairtrade premium, but students heard in a debate on ‘The future of Food’ that if a crop is sold through Fairtrade, it includes EXTRA money that farmers can spend on schools, access to water or anything else they need. This, the Fairtrade premium, is paid by whoever buys the crop from the farmers. In terms of the effect on people, the premium can mean a simple corrugated roof protects a family’s home and modest possessions from torrential rain. Palm thatched roofs offer no protection and a family's entire house and possessions can be washed away and destroyed  by annual rains.

As they ran a workshop, students inevitably missed out on workshop sessions provided by others such as Liberation Nuts, Tropical Wholefoods and a host of campaigning organisations.  However, a designer provided fun in the afternoon by leading a workshop in which students took Fairtrade t-shirts and turned them into fashion items.

	T-shirt designing starts here for Rosie and Grace!
	And here for Anna and Ellie
	Cutting begins
	No real progress yet (unlike the ladies behind who were gathering speed)
	"Use a body as a model when you're ready to tie"
	Grace and Anna - almost there
	The (almost) finished creations!

Should we be eating less meat?  Would eating less meat be desirable for the sake of the planet?  Everyone agreed that it was right to discuss it. After sampling some interesting vegetarian food, students watched a short video, listened to a short talk from the two ladies from Animal AId and finally enjoyed a short debate about these ideas. 

Gardening kicked off with a fine start in September with 60 students taking part in various activities. We have moved our old raised beds from the wildlife area to the allotment area behind Linwood where there is more space and light. Following Aidan's brilliant demonstration, youngsters dug with gusto and we have most beds filled with peat free compost, but two we have top dressed with a multipurpose compost. This will contain peat but we want to run trials to compare the two composts. We are fundamentally against the use of peat in gardening knowing that removal of peat may speed up climate change and will destroy unique peatland ecosystems.

Moving the beds now means we can focus on returning the pond area to 100% wildlife, a good project for the enthusiastic wildlife and biodiversity group!

We have also planted dozens of daffodil bulbs throughout the school grounds. Thanks to Rosie for donating some of these!