Over the past year, Bryanston’s commitment to sustainability has flourished, with pupils and staff working together to make a tangible impact on campus and beyond. What began as the Green Committee has now evolved into the Future Roots Collective, an initiative dedicated to embedding regenerative practices into everyday life at Bryanston while preparing pupils to think critically about environmental issues.
This is an area I am deeply passionate about. With qualifications in Permaculture and Regenerative Design, I have been able to help shape opportunities for pupils to engage with sustainability in meaningful, creative ways. These experiences inspired the theme of our upcoming Future Roots Festival, a celebration of regenerative practices and the role young people can play in shaping a more sustainable future.
Within a year of leading the Green Committee, I have witnessed pupils translate their ideas into action, amplify their voices and unite through a shared passion for the natural world. Our ambition is for regenerative values to become woven into Bryanston’s daily culture. While we are not there yet, we on a mission to help create that culture, bringing students together on the journey and ensuring their enthusiasm for the environment is both heard and respected.
Highlights from last year
The Green Committee worked across year groups to explore ways of reducing waste, protecting biodiversity, and raising awareness about the climate crisis. One of the most impactful moments was an assembly highlighting the scale of Bryanston’s waste production and explaining how 30-35 percent is recycled internally through the onsite biomass plant.
Practical projects also left their mark. More than 20 pupils collaborated on the creation of two wildflower strips near the Medical Centre, supporting pollinators and increasing biodiversity on campus. Eco Arts workshops gave younger pupils the chance to turn recycled materials into artworks inspired by Bryanston’s landscape, later exhibited during Eco Week. The annual House Energy Competition once again added a fun, competitive spirit to sustainability, with houses vying to save the most energy and win a food truck visit.
Eco Week also introduced small but relevant habits, such as ensuring all hot drinks were served in travel cups. Meanwhile, larger projects gained momentum. In collaboration with the Development Team, pupils supported the Plant a Tree Campaign, which funded 250 saplings across the school site. With guidance, pupils planted part of this collection in the summer term, combining environmental action with hands-on education about land stewardship. Special credit goes to our fantastic Grounds Team who cleared woodland areas, planted and maintained all 250 trees over four weeks, and even managed the challenge of felling and caring for trees on steep banks. Their work has been vital in bringing pupil-led projects to life.
Sustainability is also embedded in daily life on campus. At the Bryanston Café, drinks and food are served with recyclable, biodegradable, and compostable utensils, most sourced within the UK to reduce air miles. The Café also partners with a local coffee roaster who not only supplies ethically sourced beans but also collects spent grounds to repurpose into roasting logs, closing the loop in a truly sustainable way.
Looking ahead
BryGiving 2025 Rewilding Project has already raised funds for a bird hide and educational signage by the river. Pupils will work with the DT Department to design and construct these features, ensuring that learning remains rooted in collaboration and practical action.
The upcoming Future Roots Festival, scheduled for 4 November as part of Green Careers Week, will be a landmark event. Curated with our Head of EIE, it will feature four guest speakers, including at least two OBs, and will be streamed live to the OB community. Claudia G, this year’s Sustainability Prefect, has been instrumental in shaping the festival and is keen to see it build on last year’s successes.
Reflecting on her vision for the year ahead, Claudia says:
“We’re excited to build on what’s already been achieved. The festival is not just about awareness, it’s about showing how regenerative practices can shape the way we live and work. Our goal is to make sustainability feel accessible, creative, and part of everyday life at Bryanston.”
Beyond these major projects, pioneering ECAs continue to thrive. The Kitchen Garden, the Beekeeping programme, and the Nature ECA all provide pupils with opportunities to deepen their understanding of ecological systems while contributing to them in practical ways.
Bryanston’s sustainability journey is not just about reducing its environmental footprint. It is about regeneration, collaboration, and education. By involving pupils in every stage, from concept to creation, the Future Roots Collective is ensuring that environmental responsibility becomes second nature. With wildflower strips flourishing, saplings taking root, and new projects on the horizon, Bryanston is demonstrating that sustainability is not a one-off initiative but a culture that is growing.
By Charlotte Mason, Bryanston Art Teacher
