The North East Timber Trade Association (NETTA) has supported an initiative to provide five schools with tree-growing kits so they could participate in the third round of the SEEDS2TREES project, and potentially grow 100 new trees. Around 50% of the donation made by NETTA covered the cost of the kits, and 50% contributed to visits that helped to motivate the children, encourage, and inspire them along their tree-growing journey.
The primary goal of this initiative was to empower schools to educate children and young people about the importance of trees in our ecosystems while equipping them with the tools and resources necessary to cultivate trees from seeds. The project sought to combine environmental awareness, practical horticultural skills, and academic enrichment to prepare students for a future where caring for the environment is a priority.
Thanks to NETTA’s donation, SEED2TREES was able to promote this opportunity for schools to take on the project within their school to enhance their work around climate change, the environment, and nature.
- 15 mainstream schools – one high school, two middle schools and the rest being primary schools – embarked on the two-year tree-growing journey last year. There was also one educational establishment supporting adults with disabilities and educational learning needs.
- In addition, two schools specifically support children and young people with severe disabilities and educational learning needs. One is Evergreen Primary School, a primary special school situated in Bishop Auckland. The school currently caters for 206 pupils aged 2-11 with severe, profound, moderate, and complex learning difficulties, some of whom also have autism. Some pupils also have additional medical, physical, sensory, linguistic, or behavioural difficulties. All pupils at Evergreen Primary School have a statement or EHC plan.
- Each school has been assigned a member of our five-strong school support team, which helps SEED2TREES to be more cost-effective and considers the environmental impact.
- Each tree-growing kit included four varieties of tree seeds to grow: Oak, Hazel, Silver Birch, and Common Alder. The Oak and the Hazel were planted in November/ December by the children AND others stored in a fridge until Spring. After sowing and four weeks back in the fridge, they were placed on sunny windowsills, and just this month, seedlings that are established enough will be transplanted for their next stage of growth.
- The support offers schools to integrate the project into their environmental education of their curriculum, fostering a hands-on approach to understanding and nurturing ecosystems, and helps to spark curiosity and commitment among young minds, encouraging them to take ownership of their role in addressing global environmental challenges while fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
Five schools were chosen particularly as they offer diversity for NETTA’s support, and for their enthusiasm and commitment to integrating environmental education into their curriculums, with NETTA’s support significantly enhancing their ability to engage in this transformative project.
- Evergreen Primary School
- Mowden School, near Hexham
- Whitley Bay Primary School
- Galley Hill First School in Guisborough
- McMilliam Academy, Middlesbrough.
