Oxfordshire school uses horse bedding pellets in new way

The pellets are being used to care for the school’s White Pekin ducks.

For several months, the ducks have been benefiting from the pellets thanks to a donation from Land Energy, a nationwide biomass manufacturer and distributor.

St Peters school pupils feeding the ducks (Image: St Peter’s CE Primary School)

Emily Lemaire, school administrator, said: “We rallied the community and quickly raised more than £1,000 to buy and build a new duck run for our Forest School area.

“Nearly half of the school is now involved in helping to care for our chickens and ducks, with volunteer ‘duck leaders’ taking part in a day-to-day care rota.

“It can be quite costly to look after the ducks, which is why we were so grateful to Land Energy for donating some of their Sorbeo horse bedding pellets for us to try. The pellets have been fantastic, helping to keep the ducks’ sleeping areas clean, dry and comfortable.”

The ducks in the forest school area (Image: St Peter’s CE Primary School)

The project has engaged a large part of the school community, with many pupils helping care for the animals.

David Bone, communications officer at Land Energy, said: “We are always keen to support schools and community groups that help strengthen our relationship with the natural world, while contributing to our goal of creating real environmental gain and encouraging wider community engagement.

“We are very proud to support St Peter’s CE Primary School and its now three ducks with our Sorbeo horse bedding pellets in what we believe is an unconventional first.”