New school forests creating a generation of ‘tree guardians’

We’re planting 22 school forests as part of the National Forest for Wales ambition.

400 native trees are being planted at each Eco-School site, creating a hedgerow, copse or small woodland in every local authority. Although it has not been possible to involve pupils in planting, when restrictions allow, they will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and look after the trees as they grow and flourish.

The project is being funded by Welsh Government as part of the National Forest for Wales.

I am very pleased that we have been able to support Keep Wales Tidy with their planting work at Eco-Schools projects across Wales, through our plans for the National Forest. As we look to make Wales a greener and fairer nation, continuing towards our goals of becoming a carbon net zero nation by 2050, it is vital that children have the chance to learn about the importance of trees and woodland, and the all-important beneficial impact they have on our environment. While restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic meant pupils haven’t been able to get involved in the planting work, I am sure they will take every advantage of the opportunity to look after their new woodlands, and I would like to thank Keep Wales Tidy for their work in planting these trees and hedgerows.

Lesley Griffiths
Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs

A teacher pack has been created as part of the project, full of classroom and home learning activities designed to help young people understand the value of trees (see resources area below). The resources are available to all schools for free.

We’re proud to support the development of a National Forest for Wales with this exciting Eco-Schools project. We want to ensure young people recognise how wonderful trees are and how vital they are to our environment. By involving students in caring for these news forests and making free resources available to all schools, we hope to create a generation of ‘tree guardians’ who are committed to caring for and protecting trees and green spaces.

Lesley Jones
Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive

The locations of the 22 new forests are in / next to the following schools: