Environmental Investigation for Livingston Primary Schools
Woodland adventures as pupils help create new woodland
Local primary school pupils will enjoy a woodland adventure this week as part of the Woodland Trust Scotland Tree for All Campaign. As well as having an experience they will never forget, they will help to create 3 hectares of new native woodland at North Wood, Livingston.
The children will be taken on a secret investigation with members of “INSPIRE” (International National Service for Providing Information on Recycling and the Environment) to establish environmental crimes that young people are guilty of. On the way they will meet “Emma Brat”, an environmental nightmare who will be inspired to change her ways. The mission will end with the children having the opportunity to plant trees.
The event has been devised by the Woodland Trust Scotland, part of the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, to increase young people’s understanding and appreciation of trees and woodland, ensuring their enjoyment and protection for future generations.
West Lothian Council have given their support to this event. Leader of West Lothian Council, Councillor Graeme Morrice, said: "The Woodland Trust's Tree For All project is a great initiative, which aims to encourage more people to be involved in, and visit, their local woods. It is hoped that schools will use the woods as an outdoor classroom and that pupils will learn to love nature. The woods are great recreational areas which are free and open to everyone. They are ideal for relaxing and escaping the noise, activity and stress of urban life."
Tree for All Campaign is the largest children’s tree planting initiative Scotland has ever seen. The campaign’s vision is that every child should have the chance to plant trees. Tree For All aims to inspire in children a love of nature and a determination to act on its behalf. Tree For All is a call to action to reverse the trend of a generation which is disengaged from the natural world.
Over the coming years Tree For All will provide many simple, enjoyable and practical ways for everyone - families, schools and children - to get involved. For more information see: www.treeforall.org.uk/scotland
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact: Jacqui Morris Communications Officer, tel: 01355 578777, mobile 07979 706675 or e-mail jacquimorris@woodland-trust.org.uk
Participating Schools: Deans Primary School, Peel Primary School, Livingston Village Primary School, Dedridge Primary School, Carmondean Primary School, St Ninian’s Primary School, Whitdale Primary School, Croftmallock Primary School, Whitdale Primary School
The Woodland Trust: The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres).
In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. Today the Trust owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,100 hectares. Further news can be accessed via www.woodland-trust.org.uk
North Wood
North Wood is a 35 hectare (87 acre) urban woodland. It forms part of a network of 13 woodlands in Livingston, West Lothian which were gifted to the Woodland Trust Scotland by the Livingston Development Corporation in 1996.
A network of footpaths lead from the main public entrance, through the existing diverse woodland to the school’s planting area. Over the next 3 years this area of grassland will be newly planted by children with over 6,750 native broadleaf trees and shrubs to extend and protect the existing woodland.
