Issue - meetings
PRESENTATIONS
Meeting: 11/02/2026 - Cabinet Panel on the Environment (Item 22)
PRESENTATIONS
To receive presentations from the following organisations:
1) Icknield Infant and Nursery School – On-Site Biodiversity Project
2) Hitchin Boys School – Green Initiatives and Student Involvement
3) Buntingford First School – First Carbon Neutral School in the Country
Decision:
Presentations were received from speakers on behalf of Icknield Infant and Nursery School, Buntingford First School and Hitchin Boys School, which covered various projects and initiatives related to ‘Sustainability in Schools’.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 18 minutes 57 seconds
The Chair informed those present that the education sector was responsible for 36% of public sector building emissions and that there were many opportunities for carbon to be cut in this sector, as well as embed sustainability into schools. The Chair also advised that there were several initiatives available for schools such as Eco-Schools, Lets Go Zero and Solar Schools, and links to these would be provided.
The Chair invited Nick Dean to give a presentation, supported by slides and images, on biodiversity improvement projects at Icknield Infant and Nursery School. They thanked the Chair for the opportunity to present and advised that:
· They were the Caretaker and Site Manager at the school.
· All vegetation on their school grounds had been manicured up until 2021.
· They decided to change this after a study revealed little to no vegetation or wildlife on the extensive greenspace within the school.
· Bee Orchid Rosette locations started to be identified and marked in 2022, and 45 of these reached the flowering stage.
· No mow areas and a 500 square foot seasonal flower meadow were introduced to the school grounds in 2023, which resulted in the flowering of 125 Bee Orchids and 2 Pyramidal Orchids the following year.
· Three public tours of the site were conducted to showcase the work that had been undertaken on-site, and £50 was donated by visitors towards its upkeep.
· Only 20 Bee Orchids had flowered in 2025 due to a dry period before summer. However, approximately 150 Bee Orchid Rosettes had been spotted so far in 2026.
· One new fruit tree had been planted by each class in their orchard on Arbor Day, and year 2 pupils would be planting more trees at Standalone Farm.
· Volunteers helped to run gardening clubs, sow seeds and plant vegetation in their allotment area.
· A Fairyland Woodland would be introduced, which would include a log pile habitat to increase the minibeast population.
· Animals spotted on their site included Robins, Wagtails, Black Squirrels, Hedgehogs and Foxes, and insects such as Crickets, Butterflies, Beetles and Digger Wasps had been present too.
· An Eco Council had been formed at the school in 2026 to drive eco mentality at the school and get the children more involved with projects.
· After being awarded £5,000 from the Royal Horticultural Society Grant to convert a grey space to a green one, the preference to build a pond had been expressed after pupils on the Eco Council had consulted their classmates.
· A local company called Women With Waders would build the pond over half-term and supply 50% of the pond vegetation for free as they had a vested interest in the project. As a result, the cost of the pond would be fully covered by the grant.
· Birds and frogs would be attracted to the pond, and there would be space within the fencing around the pond for a beehive to further increase pollination and biodiversity on-site.
The following members of the public asked questions:
· Diane ... view the full minutes text for item 22