Eco-Schools

We were delighted in Summer ’25 to be approached by Wirral Council to be part of the Eco-Schools programme for the Borough.

Having previously studied hedgehogs, schools are now including a fox module in this superb environmental programme. The Events and Community Engagement team at Wirral Fox Rescue have been visiting Wirral schools to deliver a combination of:

Educational information
Fun facts and photographs
Enjoyable activities
Fund raising ideas

If you are part of the Eco-Schools programme and would like to arrange your visit from Wirral Fox Rescue please use the contact form below:

Arrange a WFR visit

If you are not part of the Eco-Schools Programme and would like to know more, please contact your Eco-Schools Co-ordinator or email Lynn Struve who is the Wirral Eco Schools Officer: lynnstruve@wirral.gov.uk.

See below for information on the Eco Schools visits we have already undertaken. Please note that permission has been obtained for all posted photos.

Heygarth Primary School, Eastham

13th July 2026

The children gave our Community Engagement Team the most fabulous welcome. They were wonderfully engaged throughout the presentation and asked several thoughtful and interesting questions about foxes and how we care for them.
We finished our session with a fox‑mask activity, and the creativity on display was fantastic. A selection of the children’s masks will soon be featured in our ECO window at The Magic Fox Charity Shop in Bromborough for everyone to enjoy.
Thank you, Heygarth Primary School

Fender Primary School

8th July 2026

We were delighted have a fox education session with a super group of 22 pupils that comprised the Eco Council and the School Council of this lovely school. The children were very knowledgeable and asked lots of good questions. Most of them have seen foxes in the local area and heard them communicating with each other. Bertie made a surprise appearance to the delight of the group, and was hugely impressed by the quality of the mask-making. Thanks to all the group who donated their mask to our Eco Schools window in the Magic Fox Charity Shop. The Group is also going to look into fund-raising for us too…thanks Fender

Leasowe Primary School

6th July 2026

Leasowe Primary had heard about us and decided to do some fund-raising for Kennel Sponsorship. We haven’t given them the Eco-Schools presentation yet, but that didn’t stop them! Angela and Bertie were invited to the school assembly to be presented with £50 in cash and some food for the foxes that the children had gathered. Bertie high-fived many of the 170 pupils while handing over the sponsorship certificate and a foxy mascot that the school is going to name. Thanks Leasowe – you did a great job for us and we look forward to seeing you again.

Mendell Primary School

3rd July 2026

We met with the Eco-Team from this super school to deliver our foxy presentation and activity. The 13 pupils were very attentive and asked lots of great questions. The fox masks they made in the activity session were really good, and some have been donated to the Eco-Schools window in the Magic Fox Shop. Bertie dropped in to provide some entertainment and gave out WFR key rings. The Eco-Team are going to spread the word to their fellow pupils, particularly about rolling up football bets and the end of the session.

Somerville Nursery School

24th June 2026

We had such a warm welcome from the little ones at Somerville Nursery School, Wallasey. The nursery children, aged 2 to 4, were captivated by the tale of Ember the lost fox cub who became separated from his mother. Together we traced Ember’s night‑time journey around the Wirral, listened to the helpful sounds of hedgehog, bat, owl and mouse who taught him how to use his foxy senses to find his mum. The children loved the happy ending — and Bertie made his grand entrance right on cue for the photos.

Wildabout Day - Thurstaston

11th June 2026

In an amazing display of grit and determination, everyone concerned turned what could have been a washout into a really productive day. Gazebos were put up in the rain and children were wrapped in waterproofs. The organisations involved braved the wind and rain to deliver a very positive experience for the schools.
In our Wirral Fox Rescue “den”, we told 8 school groups the story of Ember the fox cub who found himself alone one day. Using his keen senses and the help of other animals, he journeyed around key Wirral locations until he was reunited with his mother.
One group introduced us to the Ylvis Fox Song and we had an impromptu rave at the end of the story. Bertie made an unexpected appearance and threw some foxy shapes on the muddy dance floor.
We’re really looking forward to next year…

The Priory Parish C E Primary School

8th June 2026

Louise, Serena and Ray had a super hour with the Eco group from this lovely school. The 10 pupils had lots of questions about foxes and were keen to come up with some fundraising ideas for us. They also very kindly donated the masks that they’d made for our shop window. Bertie made an appearance, handing out high fives and key rings – always popular in the schools. Thanks Priory, and hope to see you again.

Cool Climate Judging

22nd May 2026

We were delighted to be asked to take part in the judging of the super event. 8 Eco-Schools came together in New Ferry Village Hall to take on the challenge of improving air quality in their areas. Each school gave a themed presentation of ideas they can take back to their school and implement. A lovely surprise…Wirral Council gave them £250 each to pay for materials and supplies to put their ideas into practice.
Angela, Louise and Ray from WFR, and Vic form Wirral Council, were joined none other than The Mayor of Wirral – Councillor Mary Jordan to complete the judging. Oh, and Bertie made a late appearance to get in on the photos – typical!
While Heswall were given 1st prize by a narrow margin, all the participating schools did a great job, and we look forward to hearing all about their air quality improvement plans. Great job Wirral Eco-Schools.

Gilbrook School

21st May 2026

Louise, Serena, Ray and Bertie had a lovely morning at Gilbrook, hosted by Mrs Carter. These pupils are really into their wildlife! They showed us last year’s work on hedgehogs, then a super display board on this year’s fox theme. They have wildlife cameras in the grounds and showed us some of the video they’ve obtained. We presented to two groups, 70 pupils in all, and were rewarded with enthusiasm, attentiveness and great questions.

We were aware in advance that they wanted to sponsor a kennel, so Bertie was able to present a few goodies, including their super fox mascot. They are also planning to do some fund-raising for us over the summer. Thanks Gilbrook!

Gayton Primary School

18th May 2026

We had a super class of 29 for the Eco-schools session at Gayton Primary School. The students were all engaged with the subject of foxes and most had seen and heard foxes in their local area. There were lots of really good questions too. The group are very kindly going to think of ways to fundraise for Wirral Fox Rescue in the summer. The activity was very popular – very creative use of the plates and pens to make foxy masks. Lots of these were donated to us to display in the Magic Fox shop window…thanks Gayton.

SS Peter & Paul Catholic Primary School, New Brighton

27th March 2026

We were delighted to be invited back to the school’s end of term assembly to be presented with the results of the childrens’ fund-raising activities. The main hall was packed with about 200 children who listened to Louise and Angela explain what the money would be used for. Bertie the Fox then made an appearance, much to the childens’ delight, to present Kennel Sponsorship Certificates and Fox Mascots to the two groups – ” Name the Fox” and “Fox Biscuits”. The children and their parents had also gathered lots of really useful things for us such as puppy pads and microfibre fleeces for use at the Fox Treatment Centre. Thanks everybody – we’re really grateful.

Liscard Primary School

19th March 2026

Two pupils from each of the classes in this lovely school came together to learn about foxes. They enjoyed the presentation and asked some great questions. They were very interested in the equipment that we brought along. The fox masks that they made were very colouful and they kindly donated some to be displayed in our Charity Shop window. Bertie made an appearance and had his photo taken with the children.

Mersey Park Primary School

18th March 2026

We were delighted to be invited back to this lovely school to be presented with an amazing £124.56 that the school had raised for the foxes. Bertie the Fox accepted the cash on behalf of WFR and handed over the Kennel Sponsorship Certificate and Bertie Mascot. The event took place in the main hall with well over 100 children. Bertie high-fived and fist-bumped as many as he could reach and would have stayed all day if he could. Thanks Mersey Park…you’re Ace.

Overchurch Junior School

16th March 2026

We presented to a lovely group of 22 attentive pupils from across the schools’ classes. We had lots of great questions and a mask-making session at the end. Bertie popped in to say “hello” and was hugely impressed with the quality of the masks. The group are going to think about how they can fund-raise for Wirral Fox Rescue…thanks Team.

Pensby High School

12th March 2026

We had a super session with some of the pupils from the Eco-Group and others who had expressed an interest in seeing what we had to say. Most had seen foxes fairly close up in their gardens or in the street and were familiar with the somewhat eerie “wailing” noise that foxes sometimes make

Mount Primary School, New Brighton

23rd Feb 2026

We had a very engaging session with 15 children from the Eco-Committee of this lovely school. They were very engaged with the foxy subject and enjoyed looking at the fox handling equipment we brought to show them. There were some super fox masks made. They had a surprise visit from Bertie the Fox who posed for photos.

Irby Primary School

Date visited: 28th Jan

This was a lovely session with approximately 15 children. They were very engaged with the presentation and photos. They also made some super fox masks. Bertie made an appearance from the stationery cupboard and was amazed by how much a couple of the masks looked like some of his family.

Co-op Academy, Bebington

Date visited: 27th Jan 2026

This session with approximately 12 children generated some very interesting discussion about fox / human interaction. The children were very motivated to think of some fundraising activities for us.

Overchurch Infant School, Upton

Date visited: 4th Dec

This was a very interactive session with approximately 18 children who are known as The Planet Patrollers. They are very engaged with nature and ecology. Lots of the children have seen and heard foxes in their local area and appreciate the work done by WFR.

Meadowside School, Woodchurch

Date visited: 3rd Dec

This was a lovely session with approximately 12 children with varying special needs. The children were very engaged and loved the photo board that we brought along. Bertie made a fairly normal entrance through the classroom door with his tub of key rings.

Hayfield School, Upton

Date visited: 3rd Dec

This was a lovely session in the main hall with approximately 40 children with varying special needs. The children asked some really good questions and told us about the foxes they had seen in the school grounds. Bertie made a surprise appearance from the equipment cupboard with his tub of foxy key rings.

SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, New Brighton

Date visited: 27th Nov 2025

This was a lovely session with approximately 15 children. They were very engaged with the presentation and photos. They also made some super fox masks. Bertie made an appearance from the corridor and was very impressed with the fox masks that the children had made.

Mersey Park Primary School, Tranmere

Date visited: 21st Nov 2025

We had a lovely session with approximately 12 children who were very engaged with the fox information and photographs. Mrs Porter and the children went on to develop some super fundraising ideas and have since raised over £120 to help the foxes.

Claypits Prenton

Date of event: 28th Nov 2025

This annual event saw several schools come together for a range of nature-based activities at Prenton Rugby Club. Wirral Fox Rescue presented to the following schools as part of their Eco-Schools programme:

Leasowe Primary School
St Johns Primary, Bebington
Prenton Primary, Prenton
St Michaels, Woodchurch
New Brighton Primary School

Everyone love the fact that one of the teachers was Mr Fox, so he and Bertie had plenty to talk about!

Co-op Academy Portland, Birkenhead

Date visited: 18th Nov 2025

This was our first school visit and we presented to approximately 15 children. The children were overjoyed by the personal appearance from Bertie, who gave out keyrings.

Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre

Date of event: 23rd Oct 2025

Several schools come together for a range of nature-based activities at Birkenhead Park. Wirral Fox Rescue presented to the following schools as part of their Eco-Schools programme:

Cathcart Primary School, Birkenhead
Somerville School, Wallasey
Fender Primary School, Woodchurch

Bertie the Fox made his debut appearance and was a big hit with the children.