About Bangkok Prep ECO HQ

In 2015, Bangkok Prep was the 1st international school in Thailand to be awarded the Green Flag, which is the highest status by the ECO School organisation. In 2019, Bangkok Prep was a founding partner with Get Growing Farm in Bangkrajao to foster a sustainable community farming concept. Many school trips have been made to the Green Lung, as well as being utilised as a venue to host many sustainability related events including; Forest School (Level 3) Training (1st time in Thailand) and FOBISIA Environmental Conferences. It was at this point that the school realised the need to have our own facility. The ECO HQ project was then initiated in 2020 when we were able to allocate the land adjacent to Get Growing Community farm.

ECO HQ is Bangkok Prep’s first Headquarters for Sustainability and Environmental Education, reaffirming our commitment to education for sustainability. ECO HQ will support students’ discovery and connection with nature and offers fantastic opportunities to enrich our curriculum and to work with our local neighbourhood, as well as Forest School UK, for forthcoming activities and programmes. The school is looking forward to welcoming families and students to our ECO HQ for school trips, family days, outdoor education and activities – starting in Term 1 2022/23, from this August onwards.

Get to Know Bang Kachao

Bang Kachao is located in the Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan province with a total area of 11,818 Rais. Surrounded by the Chao Phraya River and situated close to the Gulf of Thailand, Bang Kachao is highly affected by sea tides which create an estuarine ecosystem –a mix of fresh water, sea water and brackish water– forming a hugely fertile wetland with high biodiversity

From the research of BIO Blitz, there are 637 species, including rare and new species, in Bang Kachao :

Earthworms with wings were newly discovered in the South Chao Phraya River.
Allochestes were newly recorded in South East Asia.
Enchytraeus were newly recorded in Thailand
Four kinds of fireflies: Pteroptyx Malacca, Pteroptyx valida, Luciola aquatilis and Pyrocoelia sp, which are rarely found in Bangkok and its vicinity, were found in Bang Kachao.

Lung of the City

Bang Kachao was voted by Time Asia magazine, ‘Best of Asia edition’ as “Best Urban Oasis of Asia ” in 2006. According to research conducted in 2011,* the green space in Bang Kachao could absorb an average 6,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually and produce six million tons of oxygen per day.

*Research by Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization and the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University

Back-to-the-Past Trivia

Mon, an ethnic group who inhabit Lower Myanmar, immigrated to Thailand in the Thonburi and King Rama II periods and settled in Phra Pradaeng area where Bang Kachao is located. King Rama II appointed them to be responsible for building fortresses and the city.
During King Rama II era, “Nakhon Khuean Khan” used to be an official name of Ban Kachao.
In the present day, Phra Pradaeng district consists of 16 villages, including Bang Kachao. The names of the villages are still in Mon language, which was adopted from Myanmese’s village names.

Bang Kachao Farming Way of Life

With various canals across Bang Kachao, most people (making a living in agriculture) build ridges for efficient water management. They cultivate many kinds of crops, such as betel nut, coconut, mango, banana, pomerac, jackfruit, etc. as well as different types of ornamental plants, such as Raja palm, Cordyline and Lady palm.