Dereham Church of England Junior Academy has been awarded a £1,000 prize in recognition of its commitment to environmental education and the creation of a thriving local ecosystem. The academy’s “Good Shepherd Garden” was selected for the Bishop of Norwich’s Environment Prize, celebrating a project that successfully blends biodiversity, spiritual connection, and pupil engagement.
The garden, which officially opened in the spring of 2024, draws inspiration from the Bible Society’s “Psalm 23” garden, famously featured at the Royal Chelsea Flower Show. Following its adaptation by school staff to fit the academy grounds, the space has become a functional wildlife sanctuary. It now serves as a habitual nesting site for blue tits and great tits, while a resident population of frogs provides an interactive, hands-on learning experience for the students.
The Rt Rev Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, who presided over the garden’s opening, praised the school for its dedication to sustainability and the natural world.
“It is a joy to see the green pastures of the Bible recreated here in Dereham,” Bishop Usher said. “Something that began with an ancient song is nurturing plants, insects, birds, and children in 21st-century Norfolk. I love how the children were included in the project right from the start so that they have a sense of stewardship of the garden, as well as the great benefits for their mental and physical health of being outside in God’s glorious creation.”
For the pupils at Dereham Junior, the garden has become more than just a conservation site; it acts as a peaceful outdoor classroom and a quiet retreat during busy school days. Dawn Reardon, the school business manager, highlighted the tangible impact the project has had on the student body.
“Our Good Shepherd Garden is now the annual nesting site for blue tits and great tits; the hungry tweeting of baby birds is so wonderful for everyone to appreciate,” Ms. Reardon said. “Our frogs, although shy and bashful, provide great joy and excitement each year when their bold and brave froglets appear, jumping around all over the place.”
The academy intends to reinvest the £1,000 prize money directly into the continued development of the space. Planned improvements include the purchase of perennial flowers to encourage pollinators, new gardening equipment, and safety gear such as gloves and kneelers for the children to use while tending to the beds. Additionally, the school plans to invest in climbing plants to increase the vertical greenery and habitat complexity within the garden.
Beyond the Good Shepherd Garden, the school is expanding its environmental efforts. Ms. Reardon is currently spearheading a new initiative to plant a 150-metre hedgerow consisting of native trees along the school’s boundary. This project is being managed with the assistance of the school’s Eco Council, ensuring that pupils remain at the forefront of the academy’s ecological strategy. Through these ongoing efforts, Dereham Church of England Junior Academy continues to foster a culture of conservation and environmental awareness among its students, ensuring that the next generation remains deeply connected to the natural world.
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