TY Youth for Sustainable Development Class

The Transition Year’s Eco-Unesco Youth for Sustainable Development (YSD) programme has been progressing steadily and is now at the Action Project stage which will also be their entry to the Young Environmentalist Awards. After learning about the Sustainable Development Goals, there was plenty of brainstorming and discussion about what could be done and the students decided that it would be beneficial to plant some trees on campus. A suitable site was found below the new gym, where it is relatively sheltered but still gets plenty of sunshine. Biodiversity was key to the decision and a small orchard will be planted consisting of apple and nut trees as well as a native wildlife hedgerow all of which will supply food for bees and other pollinators and food and shelter for birds. It will also provide tasty, organic food for students and staff.

Planting trees is beneficial as it helps keep carbon in the soil and it is also a really useful skill to learn. Students have been busy measuring the site, creating a scale map and working out proper spacing for the fruit trees. The site has a good bit of rubble under the surface so topsoil has been brought in to give soil depth. Planting will take place in March.

It is important for students to take action, to feel empowered and to realise that they can make a difference in some way in their own community. The aims of the YSD programme are to empower young people to become active global citizens and to take positive action for change.