With the recent success of Maiden Erlegh School’s annual Eco Week raising over £500 for the non-profit initiative ‘Just One Tree,’ I sat down with Daniel Tapp, a Maiden Erlegh Sixth Form Student and the leader of the school’s Eco Club to discuss their journey and achievements.
Since Daniel joined in September in 2022, the club has grown exponentially as students’ awareness and commitment to educating themselves and taking action to combat climate change has surged.
Daniel credits the club’s success to the dedication and support of both past and present members, as well as to Kathryn Terry, a teacher at Maiden Erlegh whose steadfast encouragement has been invaluable.
This shared commitment is evident not only during their annual Eco Week, but also throughout the entire year, as the team works tirelessly to implement various schemes across the school.
These include reusing and recycling workbooks, participating in the Big Schools’ BirdWatch, planting trees around the school grounds, and the annual Wildlife Photography Competition.
Eco Schools has also awarded Maiden Erlegh School with the Green Flag Distinction in both 2023 and 2024, a prestigious, internationally recognised accreditation for excellence in environmental action and learning due to the efforts of the club.
Additionally, Maiden Erlegh Eco Week this year raised just over £600 for ‘Just One Tree’ a global reforestation non-profit bringing together individuals, schools and businesses with their ‘£1 equals 1 tree’ initiative.
This year’s fundraising activities included a plastic bottle collection, Fun Run and a bake sale.
In collaboration with Maiden Erlegh School Trust, the bake sale embraced technology by incorporating card readers, increasing the money raised and reducing environmental impact associated with cash handling and distribution.
Reflecting on the club’s success, Daniel expressed his belief in the power of community-driven efforts. He emphasised that volunteering is one of the best ways for individuals to make a difference, saying:
“Not only does volunteering help the environment, but it’s also a great way to build transferable skills. Working toward a collective goal is incredibly rewarding.”
For those looking to contribute, Daniel highlighted the importance of engaging with local schemes. He pointed to initiatives such as the Reading Community Energy Society, an energy cooperative implementing renewable and low carbon technologies to benefit the local community.
In addition to the Reading Repair Cafe, a group of volunteers, supported by Wokingham Borough Council, meets monthly offering to repair electronics, toys, furniture, clothing, etc, for the local community in exchange for an optional donation.
The innovative scheme aims to inspire people to repurpose and repair items that would ordinarily end up in landfills.
The Eco Club’s achievements show that collective action can have a meaningful impact.
So why not follow their lead and get involved?
The future depends on all of us, let’s make it a better one.
