A major new schools tree planting campaign has got underway in Hull, providing opportunities for children to connect with nature while improving their school grounds.
The work is part of the national Trees for Learning initiative, a DEFRA-funded programme that will see HEYwoods Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshires local tree and woodland initiative work with Hull City Council and TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) to deliver the project with schools across the city.
New tree planting took place at Ings Primary School in December, with more work planned at Priory Primary School next week.
Sharon Chadburn, Head of School at Ings Primary School said Opportunities to connect children with nature is a great way to develop an understanding of the role trees play in our local environment.
This type of project gives us an ideal opportunity to not only improve our school grounds, but also explore wider issues relating to trees and woodland such climate change, health and wellbeing, and wildlife. We are proud to play our part in making a local contribution to this ambitious national project.
Together with other Community Forests across England, the work in Hull is part a wider programme that will see over 1,000 schools plant 164,000 trees. The work will contribute to the Governments aim to support primary schools to plant 1 million trees across the UK by 2020.
Hull City Councils cabinet member for Learning, Skills and Safeguarding Children, Councillor Phil Webster, added: Working with primary schools in the city as part of a wider national programme of tree planting is an ideal way of helping to increase tree cover in Hull. We have been able to provide advice to the schools about what trees to plant and where, as well as helping to undertake the planting work and ensure that the trees are looked after into the future.
More schools in Hull will be able to benefit from this programme during Winter 2018/2019 when it enters its second year.