Connecting with Nature at Clanfield Junior School

At Clanfield Junior School, we truly value the positive impact that nature and fresh air have on our children’s wellbeing. We see our beautiful school grounds as an extension of the classroom — a space where children can play, explore, reflect, and support their mental health in calm, meaningful ways.

We make sure our pupils have plenty of opportunities to enjoy all areas of our grounds, from the forest area and pond to the playgrounds and quiet spaces. Outdoor learning is an important part of school life here at CJS, and it’s something we’re incredibly proud of.

To help nurture a love of the environment, we’ve also introduced a special volunteering role for our Year 5 pupils — the Clanfield Rangers . This dedicated team helps to care for our grounds, learn about sustainability, and inspire others to do the same. 

Over the past year, we’ve been working hard to improve our outdoor spaces and create exciting new areas of discovery for our children. Working closely with members of the Parish Council and local volunteers, we’ve cleared overgrown areas, planted pollinator-friendly plants, and boosted the biodiversity of our grounds — making them a welcoming home for local wildlife.

We’re also proud to have joined the Parish Pollinator Pledge and to be working in partnership with PeCAN (Petersfield Climate Action Network). Thanks to this collaboration, we’ve been awarded funding for planters for each year group, one of our exciting new projects for Autumn 2025.

At CJS, the outdoors isn’t just where we play — it’s where we learn, grow, and belong. 🌿✨

https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/get-involved/pollinator-pledge 

https://petersfieldcan.org/ 

Our Grounds and Environmental Projects at Clanfield Junior School

We are incredibly proud of the wonderful outdoor spaces we have at Clanfield Junior School, and over the past year, these areas have been transformed to create even more opportunities for learning, exploration, and connection with nature.

One of the most exciting transformations has been our pond area, which had been unused for many years. In August 2024, work began to clear and restore the space, with fantastic support from a local company. The area has now been made safe, inviting, and full of life — attracting wildlife and providing a peaceful, hands-on learning space for our children. It now features a brilliant observation shelter, which pupils can use during lessons to study nature up close.

In February 2025, our environmental efforts grew even further as we planted over 100 trees around the school grounds! Our pupils took on the important role of watering and caring for the saplings, learning first-hand how small actions can make a big difference for the planet.

🌿 Exciting News – Our New Nature Cabin is Coming Soon (2026)! 🌿

We are thrilled to announce that a brand-new Nature Cabin will be arriving at Clanfield Junior School in the New Year!

This beautiful wooden cabin will provide a calm and inspiring space for children to learn, explore and connect with nature — whatever the weather! It will be used for a range of exciting activities, from outdoor learning and science lessons to reading, art, and mindfulness sessions.

Our new cabin will be nestled within our wonderful school grounds, giving pupils a special place to observe wildlife, reflect, and enjoy hands-on experiences in the great outdoors.

We can’t wait to open the doors and see how our children use and enjoy this fantastic new addition to our school!