One hundred young trees have been donated to Churchfield Primary School in Highbridge this week.
Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre in Monkton Heathfield near Bridgwater has donated the free saplings for the school’s Garden Club and Forest School pupils to plant on-site.
Margaret Micklewright, Forest School Leader at Churchfield Primary School, said: “We are delighted to have received the saplings. Our school occupies a wonderful new building that was completed in July 2012, however in the course of the work, hedgerows and trees were removed.”
“Our Garden Club and Forest School participants are planting the saplings to create new hedges around our restored pond and Forest School area. We are hoping this will encourage wildlife back to the site.”
The garden centre runs the sapling giveaway scheme annually and invites schools, charities and not-for-profit organisations to take part.
Andrew Pitman, Plant Manager of the independent family-run garden centre, explained: “We hold the sapling giveaway every year and it has become extremely popular. We started the New Year by setting aside 2,013 small sapling trees, which were allocated on a first come, first served basis.”
“The schools, community groups and charities that received them were very appreciative and we were delighted to help them by donating the saplings, which are ideal for hedging or creating small woodland areas.”
Pictured: (Back right) Margaret Micklewright, Forest School Leader at Churchfield Primary School and (middle left to right) Owen McDade, aged eight, 10-year-old Troy Woodey, (front left to right) Rowan Knight, aged 10, and seven-year-old Tali Knight collect their saplings from Fiona Smart, Head of Plants at Monkton Elm
