Tree for life scheme at secondary school

STUDENTS at a secondary school are planting trees they will watch grow throughout their school life.

Year 7 students at Queen Elizabeth II High School are adding rowan, cherry and birch trees to the school grounds.

Thirty trees were donated by the UK Woodland Trust as part of its Trees for All campaign, which states: Every child should have the chance to plant trees.

Teacher Lesley Sleight said:

'We are aiming to give all Year 7 students an opportunity to plant their own trees. They can then watch them grow throughout their school life. We expect 30 more trees in March 2009 along with a seed-growing kit so that students will get the chance to grow the trees from seed and experience the whole process of nurturing trees.

'This supports our already thriving school tree nursery, grown from seeds generously donated by the Dalby Woodland Trust. The initative behind our tree-growing and planting scheme is to provide students with better awareness of their environmental responsibilities, which links into an already well established project in which Queen Elizabeth II High School hopes to offset some of the carbon emission that is generated through transport of students and staff to and from school each day.'

Mrs Sleight said:

'Over the past three years we have helped plant approximately 1800 trees. Our target is to plant 4000 trees.'