Green, greener, greenest
Anyone who visits our school building immediately notices that we are in the midst of greenery. Our grounds of over 5 hectares are not only a pleasant place for students and staff, but also a lively habitat for countless plants and animals. The new building gave us the opportunity to further strengthen this green character and give biodiversity on and around the grounds a major boost. Thus the school environment is now more than ever a place where people and nature meet.
From stones to flowering shrubs
Where the old, elongated building used to be surrounded by shrub beds and loose trees, space has now been made for more natural landscaping. Native shrubs and trees have been planted and large areas have been sown with herb-rich grass. This attracts insects and butterflies and gives the grounds a colorful look. In the higher grass we already discovered frogs and salamanders last summer, while squirrels were busy collecting hazelnuts and walnuts. Thus, the school garden is slowly growing into a small nature reserve.
Our nocturnal neighbors
There is also plenty of room for birds and other animals. Tawny owls can be heard at night, while martens and foxes move curiously along the edges of the grounds. For bats, forty boxes have been built into the new building so they have a safe place to live. In addition, wadis and a pool have been constructed that both collect water when it rains and provide habitat for amphibians. Even hedgehogs benefit from the orchard, feasting at night on the fall fruit left under the trees.
Nature as a classmate
The beauty is that students are not only surrounded by this nature, but are also an active part of it. During breaks or intervals, they can go outside to relax in the greenery. Moreover, there is a special outdoor location where lessons are held, so learning and nature reinforce each other. In biology lessons, our grounds are used as a living textbook: students go out on foot and sometimes even with an inflatable boat to explore aquatic life. Thus they discover the rich flora and fauna of their own school environment by doing.
A park that is always on the move
The grounds are laid out with semi-paved paths that allow water to infiltrate well and contribute to a natural appearance. Combined with the orchard, shrubs, herb-rich grass and water features, this forms a unique ecosystem that is constantly evolving. During the day it is a place for students and staff to learn, exercise and relax, while in the evening and night the animals take over the grounds. This creates a special balance that makes our grounds truly unique.
The nature-rich school? Yes indeed!
Together we are on our way to becoming Eindhoven's nature-rich school. It's great to see how our schoolyard is no longer just a functional outdoor space, but a lively environment where people and nature live together. We can all be proud of this - and it is something that will benefit future generations of students for a long time to come.