"My children can now identify Sparrow Hawks and Buzzards; they know the sound of a Song Thrush and Blackbirds,” said one parent in the school's recent Parent Satisfaction Survey. That's all down to Mr. Buckingham, or Mr 'B', as he's known to the children at West Sussex prep school Sompting Abbotts.

Mr B holds a B.Sc. in Environmental Sciences and has previously worked as a forest worker, arborist and shore warden. A member of the Sussex Ornithological Society, over his years at the school since 1995, he has nurtured many fledgling ornithologists. Those in his form look forward to their early morning 'Tweet of the Day' outings around the grounds several days a week – binoculars, recording equipment and notebooks in tow.

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“Birdwatching is just a wonderful way to start the day in nature and understand the connectedness of everything.”

There are plenty of South Downs birds for the children to spot in the grounds – from wrens to skylarks to linnets to buzzards, plus barn owls nesting in the school’s old outhouses.

“The children love dissecting their regurgitated pellets,” says Mr B. “They usually contain the remains of four or five small mammals!”

You just have to visit Mr B's classroom to see evidence of the special inspiration he takes from Nature. He likes to paint the display boards himself with natural scenes such as moonlit woods and the hills of the Downs. "Mr B is a kind and diligent teacher who has a gentle knack of encouraging others to value Nature," says Headmaster Mr Douch. "He has enriched my own knowledge of plant-life in our beautiful South Downs Natural Park. He took me on a trip a couple of years ago over the Downs and uncovered some early Spider Orchids, I was astounded by the flowers and the extent of Mr B’s detailed knowledge."

“Mr B is a kind and diligent teacher who has a gentle knack of encouraging others to value Nature. Those in his form look forward to their early morning ‘Tweet of the Day’ outings around the grounds several days a week – binoculars, recording equipment and notebooks in tow.”

Mr B is also a keen gardener and runs the extra-curricular gardening club. His Year 4 children, as part of their PSHE, get to grow their own fruit and vegetables in the school's Victorian greenhouses which Mr B maintains carefully. Fresh produce is then passed to the staff in the school kitchens for school meals.

Says Mr B: “I felt it was a really good thing to try and encourage the idea of organic gardening and pesticide and herbicide free food. l could link to the PSHE syllabus of looking after ourselves too. The fact there is a lovely Victorian greenhouse makes it even more attractive.

“Inside the greenhouse, it’s used primarily for growing broad beans for an early crop in the spring, lots of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and last year we had a go at growing melons – which were quite good! Outside in the beds, it’s primarily quite straightforward things like broad beans, potatoes, onions and sweet peas for Mrs Sinclair. We sometimes sell the excess produce to parents and donate the proceeds to the school charities.”  

Mr B is passionate about sport; coaching cricket, football and rugby with dedication and he has been trained by the appropriate sport bodies to deliver these sports.

He also works in a team capacity with Mr Douch and Mrs Kelly in the school's history department. He has established solid connections with nearby 'living history' institutions including Petworth House and Preston Manor, where the children can dress up and use role-play to get a truly vivid feel of past lives. 

So next time you see Mr B cycling in or out over the Bostal Road, you'll know a little more of the superb work he contributes to the school.