Our Sustainability Goal
At North Star Nursery our aim is to support children and young people learn about sustainable practises and foster respect and care for the living and non-living environment.
Every event we host is designed with intention, from the atmosphere we create to the way each session flows.
Food Cycle Project
‘From Seed to Plate’ is a sustainability and education project designed to help children understand the full journey of food, from how it is grown, to how it is prepared, shared and valued.
“This project supports our CAP across all pillars of sustainability by promoting environmental care, social responsibility, economic awareness and meaningful education through hands-on learning.”
Through hands-on, outdoor learning experiences, children take part in planting, growing, harvesting and simple food preparation activities. They learn that food does not simply appear on a plate, but is the result of time, care and the work of many people, including farmers, growers and cooks. This fosters respect, gratitude and responsibility from an early age.
The project also encourages children to observe insects and small wildlife around growing areas, supporting early scientific thinking and an understanding of biodiversity and natural systems. Regular outdoor activities promote physical health, emotional wellbeing and resilience, while helping children develop confidence and positive relationships with nature.
By growing food locally and using it on-site, the project reduces the need for transport, packaging, and frequent trips to the supermarket. This supports environmental sustainability and helps children understand how local food systems can reduce carbon impact and waste.
Why This Project Matters
• Supports children’s wellbeing and resilience through regular outdoor learning.
• Builds understanding of the “Food cycle” and respect for those who grow and prepare food.
• Encourages biodiversity awareness through insect and wildlife observation.
• Reduces environmental impact through local growing, less transport and less packaging.
• Aligns with early years education priorities and sustainability goals
• Strengthens connections between children, families, educators and the local environment.
• Builds long-term resilience by embedding sustainable thinking and healthy habits from an early age.
• Creates a model of learning that supports future generations to make informed, responsible choices.
Our “pots” are ready for planting seeds. A huge thank you to parents who donated their egg cartons for our Food Cycle Project. More updates coming soon!
In November 2025, we signed up to Let’s go Zero by 20230, a campaign that supports education settings on their journey to achieve Net 0 by 2030.
We are very proud to be 1 of the over 8000 settings already signed up and we have already taken steps toward reducing our Carbon Footprint such as, learning to count our carbon production.
Our daily sustainable routines
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Our daily sustainable routines -
Woodland Trust Green School Awards
We are registered with the Woodland Trust Green Tree School Award which encourages outdoor learning
The Woodland Trust aims to:
Protect ancient woodland which is rare, unique and irreplaceable
Restore damaged ancient woodland to enable wildlife to thrive again
Create new woodlands to combat climate change
Our Reforestation project
“From Acorn to Oak” is a long-term reforestation and climate education project that began during “Tree Week “ in November 2025, rooted in curiosity, community engagement and environmental responsibility.
The project encourages children and families to collect local oak acorns (Quercus Robur) from nearby woodlands, strengthening their connection with local ecosystems. These acorns are then planted and cared for within the nursery, where children take an active role in nurturing them through observation, routine care and simple documentation.
As the oak seedlings grow and become strong enough, they will be donated to local reforestation and biodiversity initiatives after 18/20 months, ensuring a tangible and lasting environmental impact beyond the early years setting.
By combining early education with practical climate action, “From Acorn to Oak” supports biodiversity, promotes sustainable practices, and empowers children to understand that even small actions can contribute to meaningful environmental change. The project also fosters strong partnerships between families, educators and the wider community, creating a shared commitment to a greener future.
Investing in early action today helps grow resilient forests for tomorrow.
Why This Project Matters
• Supports local reforestation and biodiversity.
• Encourages early climate and sustainability education.
• Involves children, families and the community.
• Creates a long-term environmental legacy.
• Aligns with national Climate Action and Education goals.
• Regular outdoor activities promote children’s health, wellbeing, active lifestyles and resilience.
