PUPILS at Hoyle Court Primary School in Baildon rolled up their sleeves and laid down new roots in their community by planting trees in their school grounds during National Tree Week.

With the help of a grant from charity The Tree Council they planted a range of trees including Oak, Beech and Birch. In addition, they planted fruit trees so children can eventually pick their own fruit. The school feels this will fit in well, as they are also building new vegetable plots and gave a home to four chickens last year so the children could collect eggs every day.

The Tree Council awards grants to help communities around the country to plant more trees and do something positive for their treescape. Hoyle Court Primary School is one of 55 schools and community groups across the UK that made a successful application for one of this year’s grants.

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Sara Lom, CEO, The Tree Council, said: “We simply couldn’t survive without trees. With their incredible carbon-busting, habitat-protecting and wellbeing-boosting power, trees can safeguard a green, healthy and happy future for our children and the planet. To ensure a green, tree-filled future, we need to plant many more trees each year, in the right places, and care for them and the ones we already have. Each of the young people, teachers and community leaders planting as part of National Tree Week are truly Tree Champions, laying down roots for the generations that follow and we’re proud to support them.”

Tim Phillips, The Headteacher said, “As a school community we felt inspired to join in with National Tree Week. The children have learnt about the species of trees they are planting and the important role trees play in helping the environment. This also supports our school values of teamwork, responsibility and respect for all living things. The Children have loved the digging and planting and now have a legacy within the school which will continue to grow, as they do”.