Trees for Schools
Chinese Proverb
If you are a business and are interested in providing funds to help school or community groups plant trees please get on contact to find out how we can help. We have a support package based on our successful Trees for Schools Programme. If you are a school and would like help planting some trees/shrubs to promote wildlife and provide a woodland for the future please let us know.
Thirteen Staffordshire schools took part in Trees for Schools, a tree planting programme, in the spring of 2016. The programme was sponsored by ENGIE, the majority owner and operator of Rugeley Power Station and delivered by Tanglewood.
The ambition of Trees for Schools was to make a long lasting and beneficial contribution to the education and development of young people by planting trees in school grounds - in the future these developing woodlands will become a focus for Outdoor Learning.
Learning in the school grounds is highly motivating and enables young people to develop new skills and build relationships. It makes young people more engaged with learning and therefore more likely to do well.
Schools were chosen that demonstrated a real interest in promoting learning outdoors:
- Charnwood Primary School, Lichfield
- Chase View Community Primary School, Rugeley
- Churchfield CE Primary School, Rugeley
- Coton Green Primary School, Tamworth
- Etching Hill Primary School, Rugeley
- John Bamford Primary School, Rugeley
- Rugeley Academies, Rugeley
- St. Anne's Catholic Primary School, Stafford
- St. Austin's Catholic Primary School, Lichfield
- St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Rugeley
- St Peter and St Paul's Primary, Lichfield
- Watling Street Primary, Brownhills
- Western Springs Primary School, Rugeley
To help schools with the tree planting Tanglewood called on the support of members of the Staffordshire Forest Schools Cluster Group, notably education staff from the Forestry Commission and Creative Outdoor Learning. As part of the programme Tanglewood also provided help and advice to the teachers about how they can use their growing woodland in the school curriculum.
Feedback from the schools
Eryl Powel, Teacher at Watling Street Primary School
“We would like to put on record our appreciation of Katie Busfield, Tanglewood and ENGIE for our wonderful Tree Planting Day which we had on Friday 11th March 2016.” “The day was superbly organised, even the weather, and we had over fifty parents and grandparents helping our children to plant their trees. We planted them two classes at a time, with the older class helping out the younger pupils on each occasion. Every child assisted in planting the trees, and we now have at least one tree planted for every pupil in school. The parents all said what a great time they had, and the atmosphere out on the field was brilliant. Your legacy will be here for generations!”
Kate Nickson, Forest School Co-ordinator and Leader at Western Springs Primary School
“We at Western Springs school were so happy with our Trees for School day, provided by ENGIE. All our children and staff had a super day and all took away new skills and memories. The whole process was so well thought out and accomplished, right from the application process, down to the pre visit and the day itself. Katie was also contactable at all times to answer any questions or to make amendments to plans. We now plan to ask our parents to dedicate the new trees in memory of people they may have lost and the money will be donated to charity. ENGIE has given our children not only a day to remember but also a lasting memory that will be present for ever, it is these events that make such an impact on children. I couldn’t fault anything and we are so grateful.”
Karen Willows, Forest School Leader at Etching Hill Primary School
Comments and quotes from the children:
- Oscar said, “this is the best day of my life”
- Some others were, “I will be able to see my tree growing forever”
- “Wow what an awesome day”
- “Can’t wait to show my mom what I have done”
- “I loved being a part of the tree planting day”
“I would like to say a very heartfelt thank you to Katie and the sponsors. It was an extremely successful and enjoyable day. We have decided to take photos each year to show the changes and growth of the trees. What an amazing legacy to leave for the children of our school and also the local community.”
Marie-Claire Darcy-Barron, French Teacher at Rugeley Academies
“It was a wonderful afternoon spent outside planting the trees along the side of the field at Rugeley Academies. I saw this as the metaphor for planting a new friendship between our school and the French School as this was our first exchange. Katie and her team were fantastic.”
