Green, greener, greener
If you visit our school building, you will immediately notice that we are in the middle of the green. Our area of over 5 hectares is not only a fine place for students and employees, but also a lively habitat for numerous plants and animals. The new building gave us the opportunity to further strengthen this green character and to boost biodiversity on and around the site. For example, the school environment is now more than ever a place where people and nature meet.
From stone to flowering bushes
Where the old, elongated building was surrounded by shrubs and separate trees, space is now made for a more natural decoration. There are native bushes and trees planted and large pieces are sown with herbal grass. That attracts insects and butterflies and gives the terrain a colorful look. In the higher grass we already discovered frogs and salamanders last summer, while squirrels were busy collecting hazelnuts and walnuts. For example, the school garden slowly grows into a small nature reserve.
Our nightly neighbors
There is plenty of space for birds and other animals. Forest owls are heard at night, while martens and foxes move curiously along the edges of the terrain. For bats there are forty cabinets built into the new building, so they have a safe place to live. In addition, wadi... and a pool have been built that captures both water during rain and form a habitat for amphibians. Even hedgehogs benefit from the orchard and delight in the night of the fruit that remains under the trees.
Nature as a classmate
The beauty is that students are not only surrounded by this nature, but are also actively part of it. During breaks or intervals they can go outside to relax in the green. In addition, there is a special outdoor location where lessons are given, which reinforces learning and nature. In biology classes, our territory is used as a living textbook: students go out on foot and sometimes even with an inflatable boat to explore water life. By doing so they discover the rich flora and fauna of their own school environment.
A park that is always moving
The grounds are furnished with semi paved paths that allow water to infiltrate well and contribute to a natural appearance. In combination with the orchard, the bushes, the herbal grass and the water parts, this is a unique ecosystem that is constantly evolving. During the day it is a place for students and staff to learn, move and relax, while in the evening and night the animals take over the terrain. This creates a special balance that makes our territory truly unique.
The most natural school? Yes!
Together we are on our way to becoming the most natural school in Eindhoven. It's great to see how our schoolyard is no longer just a functional outdoor space, but a vibrant environment in which people and nature live together. We can all be proud of that and it is something that future generations of students will benefit from for a long time to come.