Welcome to the blog of Wimbledon High School’s eco-committee! Here, we will be updating you regularly on the school community’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis, so you can find out what we are doing and get involved. In the meantime, Wimbledon’s budding journalists have taken the cause of the climate crisis to their hearts, covering the many and varied ways that the school and local community have taken action to be more sustainable. Here is a round-up of their journalism for the Young Reporters Scheme, from Head of English, Lucinda Gilchrist.

Interviewing leaders

A number of our reporters conducted interviews with experts and influential people, exploring how businesses both local and national have taken steps towards a more sustainable future: Izzy Pope’s interview with Damien Miller, CEO of Orb Energy, highlights the possibilities presented by renewable energies and his optimism for climate change solutions, while her interview with Iulia Nonu highlights the issues and some possible solutions to food waste. Lucy King Christopher and Molly Ahern were both inspired by the talk given by Mark Carney, former director at the Bank of England, which focus on the actions that businesses and consumers can take to address climate change. Molly’s article on sustainable business focuses on the work done by a Surbiton-based restaurant to not only protect the environment, but to be more economical and appeal to climate-conscious customers.

Local stories

Some of our reporters also focused on the impact of the climate crisis on their local areas: Biba Marks’ thought-provoking article on Putney focuses on the impact of pollution, rising rents and gentrification. Meanwhile, Bianca Pacciani-Massai takes us through an oft-forgotten green space – the Wandle Trail, and the joy of green spaces.

Exploring solutions

Julie Jung’s article highlights a radical solution to the problem of pollution: plastic eating bacteria! Meanwhile, Emily Richardson’s article on veganism presents an interesting perspective about its impact on the environment.

School initiatives

Several reporters also wrote about school initiatives: Eleanor Hetherington’s report on sustainable methods of travel explores the impact of taking ‘greener’ methods of travel, as well as Wimbledon High School’s involvement in the Big Pedal scheme, which Bianca Pacciani-Massai explores in a forthcoming article about the impact this scheme has had on pupils’ wellbeing, as they form healthier and more climate-conscious habits. Ambar Madhok’s lively article reflects on the school’s events during the UN Week of Action, while Bianca’s report highlights the actions taken by the school to keep us eco-conscious during the pandemic.

What you can do

Finally, some writers provided us with a range of top tips for living sustainably: Evie Barrett’s article on online shopping and its impact on the environment is a biting critique of our dependence on instant deliveries and unnecessary waste caused by lockdown online spending, while Emily’s piece on sustainable shopping provides myriad tips for environmentally conscious purchasing. Eleanor’s article on the importance of gardening is a wonderful reflection of the way in which we can explore and nurture our own green spaces, as well as highlighting the work done by the Gardening Club at WHS, while Annabelle Le Roux highlights the positive impact gardening can have on our mental wellbeing too. Izzy Pope’s article provided great suggestions for a sustainable Christmas.