Kymin View pupils have been taking part in cookery lessons to learn how to make food, following recipes that do not contribute to tropical deforestation by avoiding embedded soy and palm oil. 

They have been working towards becoming one of the first deforestation free schools in Wales and in partnership with 3 other schools have been successful in persuading Monmouthshire County Council to become the first Deforestation Free Council in the UK, possibly the world.

 As part of this work the school requested funding from WWF Community Grants Fund to help them create some recipe cards with their students that would enable other members of our community to cook in a deforestation free way. That is using ingredients that have not driven tropical deforestation such a grass fed meat and dairy or organic / fairtrade items.  These cards to be used to encourage others to cook deforestation free meals.   

The wider project has been in partnership with Size of Wales, a unique charity that is making Wales part of the global solution to climate change

Member of staff Lindsey Vernon, told the Beacon that the cookery project has been “utterly transformational for our students.

“It has ignited in some of the hardest to reach pupils a new love of learning, unlocking new potential.  We have produced some fantastic recipe cards which I have attached to this document. I hope you agree they are amazing and our students have been so inspired by this,” she added

They were able to present their recipe cards at a Deforestation Free Awards Ceremony that took place on 30 June where they had an audience of over 300 people which included the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales, the Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, Lord Moynihan, and the Sustainability Manager of Castell Howell who we are trying to influence on our school meals. 

Ms Vernon added, “Our students have also been invited to Abergavenny Food Festival in September to talk about this project and we will make sure that we take our recipe cards there too!”