Meet the pupils creating a buzz about sustainable change

Presenting their ideas to a United Nations Water Conference last month, the team are planning to launch ‘Bee the Change’ across the school on World Earth Day in April.

'Bee the Change' is a student-led initiative to inspire tiny, incremental, collaborative changes to empower everyone towards thinking, acting, and living a more sustainable lifestyle.

Zac T, one of the pupils involved in the project, said, “Our world is changing and we need to be equipped to meet the environmental challenges which exist both now and in the future.”

“By making consistent, small changes we can be like Bees and help the world heal.”

Strathallan Prep School Teacher, Rebecca Morris, said, “Bee the Change starts in the Prep School but we have high hopes on where it could go. Our pupils believe in it and that’s the best possible start.”

“Our small team ranges from 7-13 year-olds who are passionate about making a difference. For them to present to a United Nations conference, with all of its stakeholders, government officials and schools around the world was a huge moment and we are immensely proud of them.”

"I hope that, by introducing Bee the Change and Sustainability Sessions on Saturdays will continue to empower our pupils to become leaders of sustainable change.”

The new initiative follows years of sustainable action taking place at Strathallan, the first school to join Scotland the Big Picture’s Northwoods Rewilding Network.

The Northwoods Rewilding Network is a Scotland-wide chain of partners with a shared vision for an ecologically-restored landscape. Boasting 153 acres of rolling countryside, Strathallan has been a haven for wildlife for over 100 years. Among the buildings and sports pitches on the estate, 52 acres has been made available for rewilding.

Leslie Kent, Thornbank Housemaster, said, "We are determined to play our part in turning around biodiversity loss – and can do that by restoring nature within our school grounds. But perhaps a greater contribution can be made by installing an understanding of the urgent need for nature recovery in the next generation."

The school has recently introduced Wild Walks for Wellbeing, a series of innovative nature boards connected to 12 narrations allowing walkers to listen to the natural history of the school, which includes an impressive arboretum.

In November 2022, the school helped launch Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust’s Tree For Every Child in Perthshire initiative by planting 60 saplings.

The trees planted were recognised as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy by Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Alex Cairncross, celebrating the tremendous efforts of pupils to help rewild the school and plant close to 400 trees over the last two years.

In February 2022, the school was awarded an Eco-School’s Green Flag, recognising the efforts of the then Eco-Committee who had been planting hundreds of native Scottish trees and sowing bee-friendly wildflower meadows on campus.