We thought it might inspire others to hear how children at South Kilworth Church of England Primary School had been taking action in the face of the climate crisis and pledged to help protect God’s planet by planting 120 new trees in their playground.
With the help of the Woodland Trust, last winter every child in the school rolled up their sleeves and got stuck into planting the trees – varieties of which include hazel, rowan, dogwood, hawthorn and blackthorn.
It took a whole day to complete but the pupils were hugely excited at being given an opportunity to help reduce their carbon footprint and protect their environment.
To eliminate the need for plastic, the trees are wrapped in eco-friendly sleeves made from a very tough, weather-resistant cardboard. These were kindly donated by a parent.
The children had decorated and personalised their own sleeve, so they’ll easily be able to locate the tree they planted and remember why they’ve planted this area.
Headteacher Ralph Wood, says the fledgling trees had already improved their woodland environment, adding to the variety of flora, and bringing new colour and life around the school’s perimeter and woodland walk.
He said: “It’s important that our children understand their connection with the environment and their impact on the climate, and therefore be encouraged to look after their school and the planet.
“We hope that as the trees grow, the children will reflect on that time and their involvement, and go on to plant more trees in the future. As stewards of this world in which we live we are called to protect God’s planet, and anything we can do to produce a positive among the negatives is yet another important aspect of being a Church school.”