EVENTS 2011

The Nettleham Woodland Trust supported by 400 children, parents and staff and some Arboriculture students from the University of Lincoln planted 100 trees to form the first phase of a new woodland in the grounds of Ermine Primary School, Redbourne Drive, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN2 2HG. Pictures of event in RH column

Nettleham Woodland Trust acknowledges the Lincolnshire Echo's reporting of this event, reproduced below.

"Head teacher Samantha Stewart helps Rod Newborough of Nettleham Woodland Trust with the planting of 100 saplings in the grounds of the school.

OUTSIDE play areas, classrooms and nature gardens are features of many primary schools these days.

But one city school has taken the philosophy of alfresco education to another level by planting a new wood in its grounds.

Youngsters at Ermine Primary School, in Redbourne Drive , swapped pencils for tools when they helped to hand-plant 100 saplings in the school grounds yesterday. The idea is that children at the school will help to nurture the trees for decades, with the area eventually being used for science lessons and other outdoors classes.

Head teacher Samantha Stewart said: "We had all these wonderful grounds and wanted to develop them with something that would benefit the entire school. "The area will eventually be used as a classroom and it is a legacy that will stay here for decades to come."

The budding trees – which include oak, cherry blossom, beech, silver birch and mountain ash – were given to the school by the Woodland Trust after the Nettleham Woodland Trust applied for a donation on its behalf. "

If you would like to come and help us with maintenance work, please contact the Secretary at:

members@nettlehamwoodlandtrust.co.uk

 

 

"Every class has its own selection of trees to plant and will be responsible for nurturing them. A bid for a further 100 trees has also been put forward, meaning the grounds could soon have an even larger mini-wood if it is accepted.

The area has been designed with a walkway of oak trees leading to a main oak at the top of the school fields, which will eventually have seating created around its trunk. The front view of the wood will be flanked with cherry blossom trees, with the other varieties dotted around.

Alex Cook, 10, said: "I think the wood will look really good when it is finished and it's nice that the teachers are letting us help create it ourselves."

Each tree has cost about £2, but with man hours put in by volunteers helping to plant and then develop the gardens, the real price could be worth thousands, the Nettleham Trust said.

Rod Newborough, woodland advisor from the local branch, said: "Within five years the trees will be around four to five feet tall. Then in 20 years, the children will be able to walk underneath the branches.

"Projects like this which involve the community and education for children are one of the Trust's key objectives."