A Day in the Life of a Roots & Shoots Project Leader: Urban Nature Conservation at Stroud Green Primary School

Hi! My name is Shashwat, an international student from University College London (UCL) who has always wanted to champion youth sustainability and talk about how we, as students, can be a part of a larger movement to protect our planet for generations to come.

Roots & Shoots is a movement of young, passionate individuals in over 70 countries on a mission to better our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our planet. Inspired by the visionary Dr. Jane Goodall, the global network empowers youth to tackle environmental, animal, and humanitarian challenges head-on.

UCL Roots & Shoots is a Student-Led Volunteering Project supported by the Volunteering Service as part of Students’ Union UCL. As a Project Leader, I am grateful to have received the opportunity to combine my passion for sustainable living with my love for education and spreading awareness.

Recently, I had the privilege of spending a day with Year 3 students at Stroud Green Primary School. Alongside my wonderful colleagues, Yilin, Rebecca and Li, we aimed to inspire a new generation of eco-conscious citizens by talking about urban nature conservation in the City of London.

Preparing for the Big Day

The excitement began long before we set foot in the school. Our first task was to meticulously plan our presentation and activities – we wanted to ensure our message about the importance of urban nature conservation was both inspiring and educational. Rebecca and Li, with their student background in urban planning and community engagement, were the perfect volunteers to help support the sessions. My and Yilin’s role as project leaders was to tie everything together, lead the sessions and ensure a smooth flow throughout the day.

Welcoming the Young Environmentalists

As we arrived at Stroud Green Primary School, we were greeted by a sea of eager faces. The children’s enthusiasm was palpable, and it was clear they were excited about the day's events. We started with a brief introduction, explaining who we were and what Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots aims to achieve. It was heartwarming to see how quickly the students connected with and embraced our mission for positive change.

Let’s empower young people to make a positive impact on people, animals, and the environment around us. Through education and action, we can work together to create a better, more sustainable future for all.

Exploring Urban Nature Conservation

Our presentation began with a simple question:

"What is urban nature conservation?"

Hands shot up as the students shared their ideas, ranging from picking up litter to planting trees. This led to a discussion about Finsbury Park, a local green space that many of the students were familiar with. We talked about the various plants and animals that call the park home and why it’s crucial to protect these urban oases. The students were particularly fascinated by the concept of how each species, no matter how small, plays a vital role in the ecosystem. 

We quickly realised that the three biggest challenges to nature conservation is deforestation, climate change and pollution. Using the example of the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, along with colourful charts and videos, we illustrated the small ways in which we can help preserve our planet, be it through opting for public transportation, reducing plastic consumption or composting kitchen waste!

Towards the end of the slides, we checked everyone’s understanding with a quick-fire quiz! The children were eager to be the first to answer and showed great understanding of what urban nature conservation meant by the end of the session.

Hands-On Activities

We then guided the students through a series of hands-on activities. We had set up different stations, each focusing on a specific aspect of urban conservation. One station involved making biodegradable plant pots from toilet rolls, which were also decorated and filled with compost. They were allowed to plant their own seeds from the kitchen or nearby park, before taking the pots home and nurturing the seedlings.

Another highlight was the "Eco-Challenge," a game designed to teach the students about recycling and waste management. The children were divided into teams and had to come up with ideas on how to reuse common wastes such as plastic bottles. The overflowing creative and teamwork displayed by the students were truly inspiring.  

We ultimately decided to make watering cans out of the bottles to water our toilet roll plant pots with! I also demonstrated the beauty of school chemistry by making homemade lava lamps using plastic bottles and some kitchen ingredients like baking soda and vinegar. It was a messy affair, but the students loved personalising their creations and learning about how they can similarly reuse and recycle other items at home, keeping the natural environment pollution-free!

Reflecting on Our Impact

After the activities, we gathered the students for a reflection session. We asked them what they had learned and how they planned to apply this knowledge in their daily lives. The responses were overwhelmingly positive. Many students expressed a newfound appreciation for nature and a desire to make a difference, starting with their own homes and backyards. We reminded them not to forget watering their pots and to share updates about the plant’s growth.

Wrapping Up

As our time at Stroud Green Primary School came to an end, we thanked all the students for their participation and enthusiasm during the presentation and workshops. We also provided the school with additional resources and activities to continue their environmental education journey and shared contact details for future collaboration.

We left the school feeling incredibly fulfilled. Seeing the spark of curiosity and the drive to make a positive change in these young minds was a reminder of why we do what we do. As Roots & Shoots Project Leaders, our goal is to empower the next generation to protect and cherish our planet, and days like this show us that we are on the right path.

Acknowledgements

A huge thank you to Jasmina from the Roots & Shoots team and Santiago from UCL Volunteering Service for their enormous help in the smooth running of the sessions. Many thanks to Project Leader, Yilin, for help with the slides as well as our wonderful volunteers. Rebecca and Li, for support with the wokshops. I connected with many sustainability-minded and motivated peers during the project and am truly grateful for everyone’s support and encouragement. 

“Volunteering as a Roots & Shoots Project Leader is more than just a role; it’s a commitment to fostering a sustainable future. And after spending a day with the bright, enthusiastic students at Stroud Green Primary School, I am more hopeful than ever that our future is in good hands.”

SHASHWAT GUHA

UCL ROOTS & SHOOTS PROJECT LEADER