Don Valley Academy achieves Level 4 RHS Schools Gardening Award

Don Valley Academy has achieved Level 4 RHS Schools Gardening Award for its commitment to the environment.

The Royal Horticultural Society School Gardening Award recognises schools commitment to the environment. At Level 4 students are actively engaged in gardening projects; using tools professionally, growing and harvesting produce throughout the year, and using the garden to teach curriculum subjects.

Don Valley academy, though its Green Careers programme overseen by careers curriculum leader Nichola Larner has so far appeared on Channel 4 Guy Martin’s Building Britain and has planted 7 tiny forests with over 1500 trees. Each student and member of staff has had the opportunity to plant a tree in the tiny forest. Cross-curricular careers lessons took place through EPC lessons, and new outdoor learning areas have been set up.

Students have also planted and additional two tiny forests with trees from the Royal estate as part of the Queens Canopy programme, adding to the existing tiny forests, there are now 7 on the estate.