Vale learn about environment outdoors
CHILDREN from Vale Primary School joined the fight against marine plastic pollution yesterday as they learn about the island’s biodiversity.
A total of 70 Year 6 pupils took to the beach at Rousse yesterday not only to help collect plastics, but also to help tackle the invasive species sour fig, which has grown in the area around the kiosk.
The children were split into two groups and on Thursday they will swap over and carry out the element of the visit that they did not do yesterday.
The events are being organised by biodiversity education officer Julia Henney, who said it was important that children learnt about their environment and the threats to it and this was a great way to do it.
‘It’s exciting for the children to get involved,’ she said.
‘It’s hard to change people’s opinions once they have already been set, so it is good to educate children at this age.
‘This is also so important for children’s health and well-being. You also have to spend time with nature to appreciate it.’
She said the children picking up plastic on the beach would also be laying it out afterwards, learning about where it has come from and what they can do to reduce the amount of plastics ending up in the sea.
Those clearing the sour fig were transferring it into a skip and learning about where it came from and why it was a problem.
‘Sour fig has become a huge problem and it has started covering our cliffs – it grows so quickly,’ she said.
‘It was introduced about 100 years ago and it wasn’t so much of a problem when we used to have really cold winters that would keep it at bay.’
She said sour fig (Carpobrotus edulis) was introduced to the island as a garden plant and was used to try and cover German bunkers because it grew so quickly. But now it had become invasive.
Miss Henney hoped other schools would get involved in similar projects.
Vale Year 6 teacher Heidi Le Poidevin said the school’s new curriculum enabled children to do more outdoor learning and exciting activities.
‘The children are really interested and knowledgeable about it. We hope to go to the GSPCA and see the effects it can have on the animals too,’ she said.
‘This just ticks lots of boxes – it also encourages a good work ethic, mental well-being and health and safety.’
She added that the school was looking to trial plastic packaging free lunch boxes, which would be a challenge for parents also.
Deanna Ozanne, 10, was enjoying clearing the sour fig.
‘I didn’t know the harm it was doing to the environment but now I do,’ she said.
‘It’s nice to be out of the classroom.’
Milo Parsons, 10, was also enjoying learning outdoors. He said he learned a lot more when he was outside.
