The ongoing environmental campaign at St Nicholas at Wade CE Primary has been honoured with another top award.
The school has been recognised for its determined eco awareness and support initiatives and presented with a silver award by Kent Wildlife Trust.
Staff and pupils were guests of the Wilder Kent Awards ceremony 2025-2026 at the Chapel House Estate in Minster and were thrilled to be recognised a second time for St Nicholas’ sustainability work again – it received a silver award in November 2024.
Head Teacher Taralee Kennedy said: “It is so gratifying to be recognised once again for the amazing work our pupils are doing in school and beyond. We take huge pride in our incredible eco ambassadors for their passion and commitment to protecting nature.
“A massive thank you goes to our outdoor leader Abigail Hall for her relentless drive to connect children with nature, champion sustainability, and inspire a love for the natural world every single day.”
The school has a long-standing relationship with the natural world and has established itself as a leader in outdoor learning with a profound sense of appreciation for the environment.
It has implemented various initiatives to promote sustainability. Its ‘wild’ areas contribute significantly to boosting the local bee population, while allotments encourage pupils to grow their own fruits and vegetables. It also supports the ‘Tubs to Pubs’ initiative – where clean and empty tubs are recycled to raise money for charity – as well as holding a special recycling week that results in hundreds of items, such as batteries and soft plastics, being diverted from landfills.
A close collaboration with Monkton Nature Reserve allows pupils to support various conservation projects while benefitting from the incredible opportunities provided by the reserve.
Keynote speaker for this year’s ceremony was Giles Clark. Giles, who lives in Kent, is a conservationist, wildlife presenter and passionate advocate for nature. Through his work, he has helped bring stories of conservation, species protection and the human connection to wildlife to audiences across the UK and beyond.
Wilder Kent Awards is a celebration of the people and projects helping nature thrive across the county bringing together schools, community groups, businesses and town councils, along with its Kent Wildlife Trust volunteers, to recognise inspiring action for wildlife and wild places across Kent.
It stated: “The annual ceremony is a chance to celebrate achievements, share stories and come together as part of the growing Wilder Kent community.
“Chapel House Estate were the perfect partner for the 2025-2026 awards due to their commitment to sustainability through biodiversity-friendly land management, habitat creation for wildlife and environmentally responsible practices across the estate.”
Mrs Kennedy believes that St Nicholas children gain valuable insights into the importance of biodiversity and environmental stewardship. She said: “It is vital to nurture nature and care for the world they are growing up in.”
To find out more go online to www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk
