Planting for the Future

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Riello UPS supported the planting of 100 climate-resilient trees in a local school in 2024-2025

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 Riello UPS. They have sponsored planting of trees in 2 other schools as well. See the rest of the projects they have supported here.

Every tree planting workshop in 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 be best used as a resource for the school and community.

Our Educational Officers teach the children how to plant trees and tailor the session to the year group. Children can learn about: signs of the seasons, seeds and life cycles, sounds of the forest, tree and animal identification, food chains, climate change and predators and prey. This project works with and goes beyond the curriculum, helping to improve access to nature in urban areas and connection with wildlife from a young age.

Through this project, young people are taught about the importance of trees to local wildlife and why we need to plant them to help protect our planet. As well as educating children about climate change and wildlife, this project helps create green learning spaces with benefits for health and wellbeing.

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Project Statistics

School Tree icon

100

Trees Planted
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78

Approx. Children Engaged
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281

Children on School Roll
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66.90%

Free School Meals
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15.35%

County Woodland Cover
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Testimonials

"What did you enjoy most about tree planting? 'Finding worms.' 'Digging!' 'Painting the dots.' 'Crumbling the soil.' 'Digging a T shape.' Did you learn anything new? 'Different types of trees.' 'How to plant trees.' 'How to use a spade.' 'That you need a guard to protect trees.' How do you think having the trees living here will change the school grounds? A lot! Happier, better place. Attract more wildlife. More nature. More worms! It won't be as boring! More oxygen. It will feel new. It will be more beautiful. It will make the school field much prettier. - Student, Felldyke Community Primary School"

Planting for the Next Generation

Felldyke Community Primary School undertook an exciting tree planting project to transform its outdoor space into a greener and environmentally friendly area for pupils and staff.

The key motivations behind the planting were to provide a more varied landscape for children to explore and learn in, attract more wildlife, enhance the visual appeal of the school field, and support natural drainage on the sports field.

The newly planted area has been thoughtfully designed to create a mixed woodland and open space environment, tailored for both outdoor learning and play. A unique feature of the design is the formation of interlocking circles of trees, complemented by smaller clusters around the edges. These have been carefully positioned to make the most of natural sunlight.

As the trees grow, the school anticipates a significant impact on how the grounds are used. The new landscape will offer diverse foliage and habitats to support curriculum-based learning in science and nature topics, and provide dedicated spaces for play, exploration, and reflection. One of the tree circles is earmarked for a seating area, while the more open areas will be managed as wildflower meadows, and shaded spots will host log piles to create homes for invertebrates.

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Meet Our Education Officer

Jessica Lloyd

Jessica is a qualified primary school teacher and a former People and Wildlife Officer at Northumberland Wildlife Trust. She says: “I find it so rewarding to see how much knowledge children absorb during a day out in a woodland, as well as how much they enjoy it! Growing up in Northumberland I was lucky enough to go on regular family walks to woodlands, where I would take part in treasure hunts, build dens, look for wildlife and make up stories. Many children now don’t get so many opportunities to explore woodlands, so I love showing school groups how much fun they can be!”

Tree Species Planted:

100 Trees planted in Tyne and Wear

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25 Trees Planted

Silver Birch: Betula Pendula

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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.

Tree Leaf
25 Trees Planted

Rowan: Sorbus Aucuparia

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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.

Tree Leaf
10 Trees Planted

Dogwood: Cornus Alba

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Dogwood: Cornus Alba

Dogwood thrives on the edges of damp woodlands and in hedgerows, so Britain’s wet climate really isn’t a problem for this fast-growing shrub. Mature dogwood trees can grow as high as 10m, with small blue-black fruits and little white flowers. It is one of the hardest woods there is, and was used to make crucifixes including - it is said - that of Jesus.

Tree Leaf
10 Trees Planted

Field Maple: Acer Campestre

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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.

Tree Leaf
10 Trees Planted

Goat Willow: Salix Caprea

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Goat Willow: Salix Caprea

Goat Willow thrives in wet and damp environments such as riversides, reedbeds, lake shores and wet woodlands. Between January and March, Goat willow produces fluffy, silver flowers that turn yellow. Mature trees can grow up to 10m and live for 300 years. Goat Willow is the main food plant for the emperor butterfly and is eaten by the caterpillars. Birds also benefit from Goat Willow as they use it to forage for insects and caterpillars.

Tree Leaf
10 Trees Planted

Wild Service: Sorbus Tormentalis

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Wild Service: Sorbus Tormentalis

This deciduous tree has broad leaves which look a little like those of the maple and start off bright green, before turning red and falling in the autumn. The wild service is becoming increasingly rare, but grows best in the UK’s ancient woodlands near oak or ash trees. You’ll find wild service trees growing on the British Prime Minister’s country estate in Buckinghamshire, which is named after its fruits, “Chequers”.

Tree Leaf
10 Trees Planted

Hornbeam: Carpinus Betulus

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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!

Supported By:

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Project Partner:

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UN's Sustainable Development Goals

As a GreenTheUK partner, you support projects that are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

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Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

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