Call for schools to help new trees take root

School pupils help to help plant trees

Environmental charity City of Trees is calling both primary and secondary schools to get in touch if they want pupils to help plant trees across Greater Manchester.

Last year City of Trees, who has pledged to plant three million trees across Greater Manchester – one for every man, woman and child, planted over 15,000 new trees with schools across the region – part of their ‘Trees for Learning’ initiative.

The initiative is part of a national DEFRA (The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) backed programme of tree planting which will see 1million trees planted with primary schools across the UK by 2020.

City of Trees officially launched ‘Trees for Schools’ initiative in November 2017 with the help of Springwatch Unsprung presenter Lindsey Chapman and children and staff at St Charles RC Primary School in Swinton, Salford.

Now the charity is calling for schools across Greater Manchester to get in touch to if they would like to get involved – whether they have land for planting trees, or want pupils to experience helping to sow new saplings in a local green space.

Beth Kelsall, City of Trees, explains; “Tree planting season takes place over winter, when the trees are dormant, so we’re calling on schools now to get in touch so we can get plans in place for the new term.

“Planting a tree enables pupils to connect with nature in a really simple way. Working with schools this year we have seen how much the kids enjoy getting muddy and making a different to their school grounds and local greenspaces.”

As well as planting trees with pupils, City of Trees is also delivering outdoor and classroom education sessions, linking nature to the national curriculum.