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The Big Dig at KTS

Writer's picture: L RussellL Russell

On Saturday 22nd March 2025, KTS NewsKnight, DT, Green Knights and Biology are collaborating to revive the Knights Templar School’s environment with native bushes, bird boxes and bug hotels, writes L Russell and R Wallace


Mrs Unite, Green Knights staff lead, has secured 1000 native tree saplings from the Royal Horticultural Society to plant around the school site in the hopes to increase the wildlife content in the school and the neighbouring area. Here is what she had to say: “I think it is a wonderful idea, it's a really good opportunity for the school to come together as a community and improve the environment.”


Knights Templar’s design technology department has joined this project by building bug houses out of wooden pallets and wood shavings/scraps that the department no longer has a use for. Bug houses would play a massive part in this because they help to attract insects by creating a warm, dry space for the critters to shelter in. This nature reserve will be placed in areas inaccessible to students ensuring a thriving bug and bird community. This will help keep the area protected and help the wildlife by having a nice environment to live in, but also have access to direct sunlight to increase biodiversity. “I’m really proud of the way we’ve all clubbed together,” said Mr McDermott, who is coordinating the various Big Dig strands. “It shows how much KTS can do for the environment.” 


Mrs Dineen and the Biology Department are also giving their expertise to The Big Dig. They have expertise to position the bug hotels correctly and possibly running a project for KS3 estimating positive biological impact and then monitoring the effect over time. Later science boffins could formulate plans to improve the biodiversity and, hopefully, encouraging spectacular insects like dragonflies and birds like goldfinches to KTS. Wouldn’t it be amazing for students to see dragonflies buzzing past the windows?


We hope to take a leaf out of Sandi Totsvig’s book by rewilding our school field and other grassy areas around the school. She and her wife have undertaken the massive task of rejuvenating a patch of ancient woodland, and you can watch their journey on Channel 4. While we do not have our own local patch of ancient woodland, as they only cover 2.5% of the UK, we hope to partake in a similar journey for our local environment.


However, we have the ambition to make it bigger…


This is not the only Big Dig we will be doing - we are planning another that will possibly take place in Spring of 2026, to further expand our wild areas for animals to enjoy. Rare beetles can be found in overcast ponds, so ponds might be a part of Big Dig 2.0. In terms of the school site there is massive scope to bring nature back, along with the fact that we might be able to plant in areas outside of school – The Big Dig has had early conversations with local businesses to expand our green message further. We will be reaching out for volunteers, so watch this green space!  


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