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‘Uniquely Green…’

creating an urban oasis for the children

Eco Nursery of the Year 2023

We were awarded our Green Flag status in September 2023, then learned we had won Eco-Nursery of the year in December 2023. You can read about why we won the award in the Eco Schools England Impact Report.

The nursery is fully committed to helping to build an ecologically sustainable future for the planet through our daily routines and progressive policies. The planet that we live on is truly amazing and we believe that we have a duty to look after our environment, and leave a legacy to the future generations through educating them to see that looking after our immediate environment is the best way looking after the rest of the planet. In 2023 we officially became an Eco Nursery, having passed the accreditation with the highest grade.

The Eco Schools board made these comments about out Green Flag application:

"We love the range of activities that you and your Eco-Committee planned for delivery. The fact that they cover both indoor (reducing single-use plastics, promoting recycling and FairTrade, recycling stationary, food caddies, sponsoring a child and supporting an orphanage in Lebanon) and
outdoor (regular litter-picks, building bug hotels and bird houses, planting herbs and flowers, the RSPB Big Birdwatch and donating to a clothing bank) activities is excellent.

I hope you and your Eco-Committee take great pride in your achievements, when listed it's almost astonishing how many there are - however, the real improvements to your school environment with the superb range of waste reducing, recycling and lovely biodiversity initiatives and, most of all, your excellent community work (we loved those) all nicely stand out! Congratulations to everyone for the great work you have managed to do, earning your Green Flag with Distinction in style."

Reuse and Recycle

Plastic packaging is still around and a great deal of cardboard is used in all those home deliveries that we have all become used to during the past few months. This is truly unfortunate but at the moment unavoidable.

However, it has always been our policy to use any recyclable materials in a creative way. Children are natural innovators who can build unique 3D artworks out of every day materials which would otherwise be destined to the recycling bin. Tim, our proprietor, is a methodical gardener who has transformed our once barren car park into an urban green space, with herbaceous borders, miniature trees, a wide variety of shrubs and lush green lawns.

Tim’s current project is a wildflower garden at the entrance to the site in the area that used to be a piece of rather sad looking wasteland. Tim is also gifted in the art of ‘upcycling’; he made our garden house from old outhouses destined for the skip. We called this little cabin the ‘Butterfly House’ because the vegetable patch in front of it used to have a buddleia bush that attracted butterflies. It has become a tradition to rear butterfly larvae there and release the hatched butterflies into the air every spring.

Plastic Free

We work with organisations such as Plastic Free Hackney to educate the children to understand the importance of reducing plastic waste and discussing the detrimental consequences of single plastic use. We have found plastic free alternatives to glitter and sequins, and we no longer use plastic in art and craft/ messy play activities. In order to reduce the hideous mountain of wet wipes in the waste bins, we have started to make our own organic versions of wet wipes. They are disposable, but not damaging to the environment. They are not only better for the babies’ skin but also reduce plastic packaging and eliminate waste from the small amount of plastic found in the commercially produced wipes. Instead we will use organic coconut oil (what else) on soft but strong organic paper tissue very sparingly and sensibly. Our paediatric first aid training providers have given us their support on this, and advised that in the case of allergies an alternative method, such as tepid water and cotton gauze can also be used. The parents will be consulted on this during their introductory visits when all the other important details will be discussed.

Planting, Growing and Eating

We grow a wide variety of vegetables in our dedicated planting areas in the raised beds in front of the Butterfly House. We have miniature fruit trees growing in the shade of the three birch trees. We planted the birch trees many years ago, they are now very tall and mature and create a wonderful canopy under which the children can listed to stories on balmy summer days. The children contribute to their own lunches by planting vegetables from seed, watching them grow, and then harvesting, cooking and eating them.

We have grown pumpkins, courgettes, broad beans, tomatoes, and carrots in the planting areas with the children participating in every stage of the process. Every spring we decide with the children which vegetables we would like grow that year.

Protecting Nature/Enjoying the Seasons

Nature is the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, and we want the children to have as many opportunities to connect with nature as possible. As well as the fruit trees and the three birch trees we also have a cherry tree in our garden and the Butterfly House nestles in the shade of a sycamore tree. Throughout the year the children have many opportunities to participate in the planting of the flowerbeds and borders, and to contribute to their upkeep all year round.

The clematis fence is a dramatic sight in the spring, it is the time for the first picnics for the children on the front lawn. In the summer the gardens that surround the nursery will be filled with a variety of plants that were chosen because they attract bees and butterflies. As the summer matures into autumn and the leaves change colour, it is time to bring the harvest in and start cooking with our own produce. The winter weather will not deter the children from enjoying the natural environment as we have many places where we can shelter from the rain, and ran like the wind in the playground and on the lawn. In our setting the children will experience the changes of the seasons through simply immersing themselves into their surroundings, and by doing so they will gain an understanding of the crucial role of the natural environment plays for our health and wellbeing. Our ultimate aim is to give the children the freedom to play in an urban greenspace which is an integral part of the community that they belong to.

Waste Reduction

The nursery we make every effort to reduce waste. Our groceries come from Re Store which supplies our pasta, cereals, rice and pulses without any packaging.

The goods are delivered by an eco friendly float. When the float arrives at the gate, children are given an opportunity to go for a ride on the float, and discuss the need to reduce waste with the delivery girl.

We also work alongside lovely people like Eco Active who come to the nursery with puppets and props and teach the children about composting, and reducing waste.

We talk to the children about the importance of looking after the nursery resources and equipment, discussing the need to take care of our books and toys so that they last a long time.

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Coconut Nursery
133 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0UH
info@coconutnursery.co.uk
07857 961 493