Pupils at Burnham-On-Sea Community Infant School have been presented with 81 saplings to help them with their environmental projects.
The school on Winchester Road was awarded the saplings by Monkton Elm Garden and Pet Centre at Monkton Heathfield, near Taunton, to help it develop its new ‘outdoor learning environment’.
Headteacher Sue Horne told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We have a pond, wild flower area and a grass area with tables and benches for the children and teachers to use and a special area where children can look for insects, mini-beasts and other small creatures.”
“We had a small ‘Forest School’, which had to be partially cleared to build our new Children’s Centre. This has left us with only one or two trees. We would like to start re-building the Forest School and these saplings from Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre will help create a lovely, wild learning environment for our 210 infant children.”
She added that the aim behind a Forest School is to encourage and inspire pupils through small achievable tasks in a woodland environment to grow their confidence and independence.
In January, Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre wanted to hear from schools, charities, village organisations and community groups looking for between 50 and 100 young trees for projects they were working on this year.
The garden centre has now given away groups of between 50 or 100 small indigenous British varieties of saplings, known as whips, to 25 schools and organisations.
Pictured is Burnham-On-Sea Community Infant School’s Headteacher, Sue Horne, being presented with the saplings by Plant Advisor Sharon Michieli from Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre
