The 'Green Initiative' will make a huge difference to our students and our surrounding community. In order to make this work we really need your support to raise funds. We estimate that the total cost will be around £10,000. It's so important that we start to think about the physical and mental health of our student's and this is such a great way to start. The project is detailed further below.

Firstly we would like to plant climbers on all the fencing surrounding the school to help reduce air pollution. This is crucial to the safety of our students and will also benefit surrounding neighbours. As well as this, on the side of the school that is directly facing the busy flyover, we would like to plant fruit giving trees. This will reduce air pollution as well as provide fruits that students can access.

We are also working towards introducing two wildflower 'meadows'. Instead of allowing these spaces to go to waste we want to encourage biodiversity in the area and give London bee's a home. We will then use this as a teaching resource for the students, encouraging them to learn about the importance of wildlife conservation, the ecosystem and other valuable lessons. As well as the benefits mentioned above, wildflower meadows will contribute towards reducing air pollution in the area.

In the first useable space, we want to build a ground level tree house to provide the children with outdoor shelter and to encourage imaginary play in the outdoor space. In the second useable space we want to build raised beds and cold frames to involve the students in edible gardening. The children will work with their teachers to grow fruits and vegetables from seed. This time with nature is massively beneficial and recent studies have shown that mental well-being is improved greatly through activities like this. As well as this, the sense of stewardship and responsibility the students will develop over time is invaluable for their future lives. In addition, we would like to make these vegetable patches a community space and would invite in members of the community, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, to use the space during the school holidays. In this way they have access to organic, locally grown produce that they may not otherwise have had access to.

The children have been invited to contribute ideas towards the final design of the gardens and we are of course, always willing to work with you on the final solution. We would really appreciate your help on this, for the students at the school and for the wider Croydon community. We have an opportunity here to really show parents and well-wishers that we take their concerns seriously and that we are learning from the mistakes of the past, we can show them that we are working together to make our community a safer, more holistic space for all of us.