SCHOOLCHILDREN PIONEER NEW TREE PLANTING INITIATIVE
Thousands of youngsters join new Woodland Trust Seeds-to-Trees’ pilot
Pupils from schools across the Central Belt are taking part in a UK wide Seeds-to-Trees’ project to help safeguard our native trees and create lasting woodland legacies.
During the next 18 months, thousands of youngsters will be planting seeds, before germinating and nurturing the young saplings and returning to the Trust’s site at Milton, Stirlingshire to plant them.
Rebecca Whitley, Development Officer believes it will now pave the way for hundreds more projects across Scotland.
She said: “These schoolchildren will help create havens for thousands of species and vast woodland areas for future generations to enjoy. Not only will they have the excitement of seeing their trees germinate and grow, we hope they will be able to go and plant their saplings.
“The Woodland Trust believes every child should get the chance to plant trees and this pilot project will help pave the way for more and more to get their hands dirty and see at first hand how their efforts could transform our landscape.”
All participating schools will get off to flying start with donations of seeds to grow 32 oak saplings and 32 ash saplings, tags, course material and guidance notes prepared by the Woodland Trust. If all goes well, the scheme will be expanded even further next year.
The initiative is part of the Woodland Trust’s ground-breaking Tree for All project, which was launched in September 2004. It is the largest children’s tree planting initiative the UK has ever seen and will inspire today’s youngsters to become environmental custodians of the future.
During a five-year period Tree For All will see:
12 million trees planted across the UK , 2 million of which will be in Scotland.
At least one million people, especially children, involved in planting trees through school planting events, public events and even in their own back gardens.
A chance for people of all ages to take part and get closer to woodland through community events, planting a tree at home, creating a virtual wood online and a programme of initiatives designed to get us out and in touch with nature throughout the year.
To find out more log on to project website www.treeforall.org.uk
Many of the first wave of schools selected has already highlighted their green credentials by clinching coveted, internationally-renowned Eco-school status. To find out more log on to www.eco-schools.org.uk
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For media enquiries contact:
Jacqui Morris, Communications Officer, Tel: 01355 578777, mobile: 07979 706675, email; jacquimorris@woodland-trust.org.uk
Participating Schools
Allans Primary School, Stirling; Antonine Primary School, Bonnybridge; Auchinairn Primary School, Bishopbridge; Baldernock Primary School, Torrance; Balfron Primary School, Balfron; Blackness Primary School, Linlithgow; Bridge of Allan Primary School, Bridge of Allan; Castlehill Primary School, Bearsden; Clober Primary School, Milngavie; Comely Park Primary School, Falkirk; Craigdhu Primary School, Milngavie; Craighead Primary School, Milton of Campsie; Deanburn Primary School, Bo’ness; Easter Carmuirs Primary School, Falkirk; Falkirk High School, Falkirk; Glencryan School, Cumbernauld; Harestanes Primary School, Kirkintilloch; Head of Muir Primary School, Denny; Kincardine-In-Menteith Primary School, Stirling; Kirkintilloch High School, Kirkintilloch; Meadowburn Primary School, Bishopbriggs; Millersneuk Primary School, Lenzie; Mosshead Primary School, Bearsden; St Dominic’s Primary School, Airdrie; St Flannan’s Primary School, Kirkintilloch; St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Bonnybridge; Stenhousemuir Primary School, Stenhousemuir, Turnbull High School, Bishopbriggs; Whitecross Primary School, Linlithgow; Woodhill Primary School, Bishopbriggs.
Notes to editors:
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 found at www.woodland-trust.org.uk
