Duke of Edinburgh's Awards students put back into conservation

Duke of Edinburgh Award students swapped warm classrooms for some very fresh December air as they spent a day undertaking conservation work on Redhill Common. The students concentrated on felling overgrown trees and clearing excessive undergrowth and, if the hard physical work hadn’t already warmed them, managed to heat up around the resulting bonfire. The day was part of an ongoing programme which sees RGS students, who are working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards, spend one day a term on local conservation projects. Previous days have seen students undertake conservation work on Reigate Heath and help clear former quarries now transformed to wildlife havens close to Nutfield Marsh.

Commented Mr Simon Collins, who leads the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme at Reigate Grammar: “The conservation work counts towards the students’ DoE Awards, but more than that it gives them a chance to get involved in important conservation projects within their home environment. There is no denying that these days are hard work but they are also great fun with everyone getting stuck in.”

December 2009