The Eco Den – Growing Eco Heroes of the Future

Aim

To create an interactive outdoor learning space, teaching and actively engaging children in sustainability and biodiversity in action.

Who are we, and what is our project about?

Friends of St Stephen’s Primary School (FOSS) is the volunteer run Parent Teacher Association supporting St Stephen’s CE Primary School in Twickenham – a school with deep roots in our local community, welcoming pupils from all faiths and socio-economic backgrounds.  

FOSS bring together parents, carers, staff, and volunteers to improve school life and create positive opportunities for children and the wider community. 

We are fundraising to create an “Eco Den” – a lightweight open-air outdoor interactive nature-based learning space where children from our school – and the wider community – can learn about environmental sustainability, biodiversity, climate resilience, and the benefits of spending time in nature, through a range of hands-on experiences. 

Built alongside the structure will be a dedicated space for our Pre-Loved Uniform Shop. Our shop redistributes nearly 1,000 items of school uniform each academic year, keeping good-quality clothing in use, reducing waste and supporting families with affordable uniform options.

The Eco Den will transform a hard-surfaced area of the playground into a vibrant outdoor learning environment. The space will feature:  

• A living roof to support biodiversity and natural cooling. 
• A garden bed with pollinator friendly and sensory planting. 
• Rainwater collection through water butts, connected to a drip irrigation system that will maintain the garden bed. 
• A small solar panel and mini wind turbine to help educate children about renewable energy – whilst powering lighting during darker months.  
• Work benches for planting, potting and cultivating seedlings.
• Educational signage. 
• Environmental monitoring displays.
• A storage unit built into the side for the FOSS Second Hand Uniform Shop.

The Eco Den will be used for lessons, wellbeing activities, gardening, habitat exploration, and community engagement while creating a greener, cooler, and more inspiring environment for our school. 

BEFORE (current playground):

 AFTER:

The project will strengthen community engagement by working with environmental organisations such as Friends of the River Crane Environment, and by welcoming children from a nearby nursery that currently has no access to outdoor green space. 

Our pupils will have the opportunity to become environmental ambassadors by supporting younger children from the nursery to learn about planting, habitats and biodiversity.

Why are we crowdfunding? 

Our school is located in a densely built-up urban area bordering the A316 dual carriageway, a major route connecting central London with the M3. Around 32% of our pupils do not have direct access to green space at home, and our compact urban school site contains no grassed areas. 

The Eco Den will support the delivery of the school's Environmental Sustainability curriculum, providing a space where children can investigate biodiversity, climate change, renewable energy, sustainable living and environmental stewardship through hands on real-world experiences. 

Children will be able to observe, measure and record environmental data, learn about biodiversity, local ecosystems and pollinators, and develop a practical understanding of how renewable energy technologies can contribute to a more sustainable future. 

The project will encourage curiosity, critical thinking and a lifelong connection with nature, helping children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to become the next generation of "eco warriors" and environmental ambassadors. 

The Eco Den, together with a separate programme to introduce 130 new trees and plants across the school grounds to celebrate the school's 130th anniversary in 2026, will help create a cooler, greener and more wildlife-friendly environment. 

How we’ll spend the money raised

• Landscaping and preparation of the space and construction of the Eco Den. 
• Living roof installation to support biodiversity and natural cooling. 
• Rainwater collection and drip irrigation systems. 
• Pollinator-friendly, sensory, and habitat planting. 
• Educational signage and biodiversity learning resources. 
• Small renewable energy features including a mini wind turbine and solar panel. 
• Seating, storage, and outdoor learning equipment. 

Every donation will help us to transform an underused hard-surfaced area into a greener, cooler, and more inspiring place for children to learn and connect with nature. 

How you can help

There are three simple ways to get involved and support our project: 

1. Make a donation 

Every pledge gets us closer to our goal and is matched by Aviva pound for pound up to £250 per supporter.

2. Spread the word 

Share our project with friends, family and your wider network. The more people we reach, the more likely we are to succeed. 

3. Volunteer with us 

If you’d like to get involved, please contact [email protected] who coordinates volunteer planting, watering, maintenance, and long-term care of the school’s gardens and green spaces.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 23rd November 2026 at 4:13pm