Hensingham Primary School pupils have planted over 300 trees to create a thriving forest which can be enjoyed for generations to come.
With the help of Copeland Borough Council, every pupil planted a tree on land behind the school and labelled it with their name.
Various species of tree now populate the area including birch, oak and rowan trees – the land is open for the community to enjoy as the trees grow.
This project was delivered as part of the Cumbria Coastal Community Forest project and supported by the council’s parks and open spaces team.
The team helped educate the pupils on the different species of tree, and the important role they play in enhancing the environment and reducing carbon footprint.
Councillor Andy Pratt, Copeland Borough Council’s portfolio holder for parks and open spaces, said: “This project has been a wonderful way to help the students engage with nature, and improve the environment around them.
“It is also an opportunity for the students to leave a positive impact behind for years after they leave the school.”
The Cumbria Community Forest project received a £220,000 boost from DEFRA’s Nature for Climate Fund to encourage tree planting this year.
The school’s new woodland area will grow into a flourishing habitat for wildlife and insects and help to lessen Copeland’s carbon footprint.
The council is seeking other sites for woodland projects, and tree planting will resume in the autumn.
If you work with a community group or school with land that could be developed into a community woodland, get in touch with the parks and open spaces team at openspaces@copeland.gov.uk.
