Youngsters get involved in tree planting
Over the coming weeks schools and youth groups across Wales will be planting trees to help safeguard native trees and hedgerows, creating lasting woodland legacies.
More than 12,000 trees will be planted in Wales this autumn as part of the scheme, contributing to a total of over 220,000 new trees all over Wales and across the UK. Schools and youth groups chose either a free hedge pack or a free copse pack from the Woodland Trust. Hundreds of schools and youth groups across Wales are expected to take part in tree planting over the next month.
The free tree packs are courtesy of the Woodland Trust’s ground-breaking ‘Tree for All’ campaign, the largest children’s tree planting initiative the UK has ever seen. By 2009, the project will have planted the equivalent of one tree planted for every child under 16. Tree planting inspires youngsters to engage with nature and become environmental custodians of the future.
Anna Heslop of the Woodland Trust comments: “Because of modern lifestyles, many children are growing up with little connection with the natural environment. Tree For All is about inspiring young people to become future guardians of the natural environment and to encourage people to become more in touch with nature, increasing their understanding and enjoyment of woodland.“
The young tree-planters will help to create woodland havens for thousands of wildlife species and for people of future generations to enjoy. They’ll get the thrill of seeing their trees grow and will be able to create a lasting green space in their school grounds or recreation area.
Ysgol Nant y Coed in Llandudno Junction is one of the schools taking part in the scheme. Head Teacher Mr Arwel Roberts comments: “We welcome this gift from the Woodland Trust. We’ve already planted bulbs with the Museum of Wales, and these trees will be planted in the same area to create a beautiful space for nature”.
The planting of a hedge or copse will attract wildlife to a ‘living classroom’ which pupils can enjoy for years to come. Each hedge and copse pack has instructions on how to plant the saplings plus worksheets about the wildlife they are expected to attract. Tree planting and wildlife study is part of the National Curriculum’s Key Stage 2 in science, numeracy, literacy and art and design.
Since the launch of the Trust’s hedge and copse scheme in 2004, part of the Woodland Trust’s Tree for All campaign, schoolchildren in Wales have contributed to the reinstatement of over 160 km of hedgerows in the UK. This is fantastic news considering 50 per cent of the UK’s ancient woodland has been felled or damaged and 190,000 km of hedgerow destroyed since the 1930s.
To find out how your school or youth group can get involved visit http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/hedge/
For media enquiries contact:
Anna Heslop (Campaigns Officer Wales) on 08452 935 735 or 07824 416 518 annaheslop@woodlandtrust.org.uk
Or Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 08452 935 860 or 07760 171174
Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH
Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
