Eight pupils from Pleckgate Eco Club proudly took part in this year’s CORVS Climate Conference, joining secondary schools from across the Ribble Valley to explore the theme ‘Nature Needs Nurturing’. The event, held at Oakhill School, was filled with inspiring talks, hands-on workshops, and meaningful discussions about climate action and sustainability.
The day began with a performance from Oakhill’s Key Stage 2 pupils, who sang a catchy and thought-provoking song centred around the 3 R’s—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This was followed by a keynote address from Jack Spees, CEO of the Ribble Rivers Trust, who spoke passionately about the importance of our local river systems and the environmental challenges they face. His talk sparked insightful and thought-provoking questions from pupils across the participating schools.
After a short break to explore the impressive eco displays from each school, pupils split into workshop groups. Pleckgate pupils took part in farming-based activities: one group explored soil pH and how it affects grazing patterns for livestock throughout the year, while another learned about the surprising range of sheep-derived products used in everything from beauty items to tennis equipment. The session also shed light on how sheep farmers are returning to traditional, more sustainable farming practices.
Later in the day, pupils worked with the Ribble Rivers Trust on field-based investigations into soil infiltration and stream health around the Oakhill site. These activities gave our pupils a greater understanding of environmental monitoring and the importance of healthy ecosystems.
After a lunch with a sustainable focus, pupils reconvened for a rotating Q&A session with an expert panel. This included the Mayor of the Ribble Valley, local councillors, Jack Spees, and the farmers from earlier workshops. Pupils asked challenging and thoughtful questions about what more could be done to nurture nature—while also sharing the impactful work of their own school eco clubs.
One of the highlights of the day was when each school made pledges for the year ahead. Representing Pleckgate, Zakariyah Pathan took to the stage and announced our school’s eco goals:
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Reduce classroom printing
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Improve the school’s recycling scheme
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Launch a “Walk to School Week” to lower car emissions and promote healthy lifestyles
To celebrate the success of the conference, each school was gifted tree samples by Oakhill School. Pleckgate received Hazel, Silver Birch, and Maple saplings, which were planted by our Eco Club members on Thursday 26th June—an act symbolising the growth of our environmental commitment.
The CORVS Climate Conference was an inspiring and enriching experience, and we are proud of our pupils for engaging so enthusiastically and representing Pleckgate with confidence and purpose. We look forward to continuing our eco journey and making real change within our school and community.
