Free trees for schools

Teachers are being reminded to apply for free trees for their schools

Teachers are being reminded to apply for free trees for their schools. Primary schools in in Rochdale are being offered free tree packs by the Woodland Trust to transform grounds and surrounding local communities into tree-mendous spaces. It follows a successful pilot this spring.

Youngsters are getting the chance to connect with nature, and can look forward to planting a copse or hedge, for a wild harvest, or a burst of year round colour.

Trees can create inspiring outdoor learning spaces, with educational as well as environmental benefits.

If space within school grounds is in short supply, as well as trees, for eligible schools, there’s help with finding somewhere else to plant, protection to help the trees grow, and online curriculum-linked resources to support lesson plans.

The initiative is being funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), as part of a four year plan to give children the chance to understand and connect with nature and make their school grounds and neighbourhoods cleaner and greener.

The scheme is open to over 7,000 state funded primary schools in England.

To receive packs of saplings in time for planting this autumn, schools need to apply to the Woodland Trust by 9 September.

Beccy Speight, Chief Executive of The Woodland Trust, said: “These children might never otherwise get a chance to plant a tree, and that’s vitally important. We know from our research it’s a memory they'll treasure for years to come, and often starts their relationship off with the natural world and all the benefits that brings.

“This scheme offers schools which have found it hard in the past, a new way to plant trees, and bring an oasis of green into their community.”

Schools can apply by visiting the Woodland Trust website or searching for ‘school tree packs’ online.

Over the next four years, Defra will be supporting the Woodland Trust to deliver 400,000 trees into primary schools in England.