Planting for the Future

The Lowry Hotel supported the planting of 100 climate resilient trees in a local school in 2023

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 The Lowry Hotel, who have also supported planting in 3 more schools.

Every tree planting workshop with the Trees for Schools programme is bespoke and tailored to the needs of the school. We take into account the age of the children and the existing availability of green space for new trees. A pre-planting consultation with the school helps us to understand which species will best suit their plans for the site, map out the planting and plan how the trees will best be used as a resource for the school and community.

Project Statistics

100

Trees Planted

240

School Children Involved

Testimonials

"The children had a fantastic experience on Tuesday, the rain held off and Alice was fantastic with our children. They are very keen to be 'advocates for change' and we do a lot of work in school in regards to brightening up our surroundings and planting and maintaining as much greenery as possible. Thank you very much!"

Planting for the Next Generation

St Augustine’s Primary is a primary school for ages 3 – 11 with around 240 pupils. In November 2023, pupils enjoyed an outdoor learning session with Educational Officer, Alice. Pupils learnt how to plant trees and worked in groups to dig holes, place saplings in the ground and ensure the trees were firmly rooted and protected for the future. The children enjoyed learning about the environmental benefits of planting trees and chose to plant in a circle, creating a new wildlife haven and learning area.

Based in the community of Pendlebury, Greater Manchester, St Augustine’s falls into the Salford Local Authority area. Government deprivation statistics show that this community is in the lowest 30% nationally for educational outcomes for its residents and the highest 20% nationally for recorded crimes. Planting trees in urban communities such as these is crucial for addressing these challenges, improving mental and physical health and giving pupils a pride in their school and community.

Meet Our Education Officer

Alice

Alice is an experienced primary school teacher and forest school leader with a passion for getting children out into forests and learning about them.

Tree Species Planted:

100 trees planted in Salford

17 Trees Planted

Silver Birch: Betula pendula

The silver birch is an elegant, majestic-looking tree which can survive in a range of climates, making it a very popular choice for gardeners. It attracts hundreds of insect species, and woodpeckers like to nest in its rough, tough, silver-white trunk. There is a lot of mythology attached to the silver birch, which is said to symbolise purity, new beginnings and protection. Once upon a time, on Midsummer’s Eve, silver birch boughs were hung across the doors of houses to bring good luck to their residents.

33 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!

33 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.

17 Trees Planted

Rowan: Sorbus Aucuparia

Also known as the mountain ash, rowan trees grow well at high altitudes and are commonly found in the Scottish Highlands, as well as on streets and in gardens across the UK. Many birds eat their scarlet berries in the autumn, then disperse the seeds. Rowan used to be planted next to homes to ward off the threat of witches, as red was once believed to guard against evil.