MPs in North Herts urge schools to step up and take advantage of free trees offer
Youngsters are being urged to get involved in the free trees offer - Credit: Archant
MPs in Stevenage and North Herts have urged schools to step up and take advantage of a nationwide ‘free trees’ offer.
The Woodland Trust scheme aims to help children connect with nature and improve their surroundings by planting trees for free.
Youngsters can get involved in planting a copse or a hedge, which will in time provide a wild harvest or a burst of colour all year round.
As well as free tree packs, there is help for eligible schools in finding somewhere else to plant if there is not room on school grounds, help with protection to help the trees grow, and help with online curriculum-linked resources to support teachers’ lesson plans.
MP for North East Herts Sir Oliver Heald said, “This great opportunity will help schools improve their local environment and enable children to learn about nature.
“Trees bring enormous benefits to the environment and I encourage local schools to take part.”
His opposite number in Stevenage, Stephen McPartland, added: “We are lucky in Stevenage to have many green spaces, large and small, that we all enjoy.
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“This free offer is a great opportunity to help schools enhance their local environment further and enable children to learn more about nature.
“Children, staff and parents can plant a copse or hedge, and there are on-line curriculum-linked resources to support teachers’ lesson plans.”
The government is supporting the offer so that an extra 45,000 British native trees can be made available.
The closing date for applications is January 8, and you can find full details on the Woodland Trust website at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
