Planting for the Future

Adair Paxton supported the planting of 200 climate resilient trees in a school in their local area in 2022

Project Overview

This report is about the Trees for Schools project where climate resilient trees have been planted in a local primary school thanks to support from Adair Paxton.

Every tree planting workshop with the Trees for Schools programme is bespoke, tailored to the needs of the school in terms of the site available, the age of the children and the number of trees planted. We hold a pre planting consultation with the school to understand which trees would best suit their plans for the site and how they’re going to be used as a resource for the school and community.

Through the project, young people were taught about the importance of tree planting, how to plant trees and then went out and planted them with an expert Education Officer. These trees will provide habitats for local wildlife and sequester carbon. As well as educating children about climate change and wildlife, this project helped create green learning spaces in schools for the future to improve children's health and wellbeing by getting them outside.

Project Statistics

200

Trees Planted

180

School Children Involved

Testimonials

"Grimes Dyke children talk about planting trees for their grandchildren to climb. They’re very aware that they plant for the next generations."

Planting for the Next Generation

In November 2022, as part of National Tree Week, 180 children at Grimes Dyke Primary school planted 50 trees as a hedge at the front of the school to reduce pollution from the busy road in front. A further 150 trees were planted to the rear of the school as an expansion of their existing forest area. These trees form an integral part of the school’s approach to tackling climate change and raising aspirations in a deprived community. The children are very knowledgeable about the importance of planting the trees.

Meet Our Education Officer

Becky

Becky is Learning and Outreach Manager at the Royal Forestry Society. She is responsible for the Teaching Trees and Future Foresters programmes as well as being our Lead Trainer.

Becky has an MA in Educational Leadership and spent 11 years as a teacher. During that time she worked in senior leadership, teacher training and as a teaching and learning advisor. Becky is a qualified Forest School leader and is very experienced in helping schools make the most of their outside space for learning. Becky can help schools to design in tree planting that helps to reduce noise and air pollution from any nearby roads, benefit wildlife and make the most exciting and interactive spaces for high quality education.

Tree Species Planted:

200 trees planted in Leeds

25 Trees Planted

Field Maple: Acer Campestre

This species is the UK’s only native maple and is often grown as an ornamental tree in large gardens and parks, as well as in woods and hedgerows. Its wood is white, hard and strong, and is popular for making furniture, flooring and musical instruments, especially harps. Field maple flowers are hermaphrodite, meaning each flower contains both male and female reproductive parts.

50 Trees Planted

Hornbeam: Carpinus Betulus

The hornbeam is extremely tough and keeps its leaves all year round, making it an attractive proposition for birds, insects and other animals. Hornbeam wood is very hard, in fact it is also known as “ironwood” and the Romans recognised its durability, using it to make their chariots. Nowadays, this timber is used for tool handles, coach wheels, parquet flooring and chess pieces!

75 Trees Planted

Hawthorn: Crataegus Monogyna

Hawthorn is very much associated with the month of May, and the appearance of its bright, white flowers heralds the change from spring to summer. It is prolific in hedgerows, scrub and woodland throughout the UK and Ireland, and a single tree can grow as tall as 10m. In pagan times, hawthorn was a symbol of marriage and fertility, but in the Middle Ages, it was never brought into homes, as people believed it was a harbinger of illness and death.

50 Trees Planted

Elder : Sambucus Nigra

Elder trees can be found growing all over the UK, often near rabbit warrens and the homes of other woodland creatures who spread the seeds through their droppings. Our ancestors in the Middle Ages believed that planting elder trees near their houses would ward off the Devil, and elder leaves were thrown into graves at funerals to protect the dead from evil spirits. Although poisonous when raw, elderberries can be cooked and made into syrup or jam, while elderflowers make the perfect refreshing summer cordial.