Co-op Academy Manchester's Royal Visit to the Natural History Museum
What an incredible day for Co-op Academy Manchester! The school's Eco Club recently had the opportunity to travel to London for a special event at the Natural History Museum, where they met Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince and Princess of Wales. The visit was a brilliant showcase of the school's dedication to the environment and its role as a leader in a major national initiative.
Pioneering a Greener Education
Co-op Academy Manchester has been at the forefront of the National Education Nature Park (NENP) programme since it was a pilot school in 2022. The NENP programme is part of a huge effort to support schools in transforming their grounds to benefit nature and improve biodiversity. The goal is to create a collective 'nature park' across the country that is twice the size of Birmingham.
The academy was the first school to fully map its site for the programme, and since then, over 3,000 educational settings have joined the movement, mapping over 12 million square metres of land for greening projects. This pioneering work has helped set the standard for others, connecting young people with nature and giving them the skills and knowledge for future 'green' careers.
A Royal Audience
The Natural History Museum, which leads the NENP, invited the school's Eco Club to the museum to show Prince William and Princess Kate the progress of the programme. The students had the chance to highlight some of their ongoing projects, including:
- A wet woodland area with ponds that provides a rich habitat for local wildlife
- A green wall on a south-facing technology room, which not only looks beautiful but also helps to keep the classroom cool
- Numerous sections of wildflower meadows and 'no mow' grass areas, which have brought new life to the school's landscape
The students got the opportunity to sit down with the royal couple and discuss their work, explaining how the Eco Club has helped them feel more connected to nature. The colleagues from the Natural History Museum also explained how the school's efforts fit into the broader national programme and what the future holds.
After saying goodbye, the students enjoyed a well-deserved lunch at the Museum's T-Rex Grill restaurant. Their amazing day concluded with a visit to the "Our Story" 3D exhibition, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, before they headed back to Manchester.
The Prince and Princess of Wales posted online saying:
"Even with the rain, it was great seeing how the gardens and National Education Nature Park programme are helping young people to connect to nature, combining outdoor learning with wellbeing activities. And a pleasure hearing from students of Kendar Primary in Lewisham and Co-op Academy Manchester about projects to support nature and biodiversity."
Richard Simpson, Senior Science Technician & STEM Lead at Co-op Academy Manchester, said:
"Our students did a great job in sharing their Eco club projects at the Natural History Museum, showcasing how the National Education Nature Parks programme is helping them create richer spaces for biodiversity at Co-op Academy Manchester. Presenting their hard work to their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales was a truly inspiring moment, and a reminder of the power young people have to shape a greener future"
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