Letchworth pupils have planted more than 160 trees and hedgerows in their school grounds to help tackle climate change and enhance the local environment.

Lordship Farm Primary School's eco committee successfully secured 160 tree saplings and hedgerow plants through the Woodland Trust’s free trees for schools and communities’ initiative and a further eight trees through the North Herts Green Spaces scheme.

The children planted a native mix of Hazel, crab apple, wild cherry, Dog Rose, Dogwood, Hawthorn, Rowan and Silver Birch around the school field and on the edge of the playgrounds.

The Comet: Lordship Farm Primary School pupils are helping to tackle climate changeLordship Farm Primary School pupils are helping to tackle climate change (Image: Lordship Farm Primary School)

Year 2 pupil Henry said: “We spent all morning digging and planting, it was hard work but great fun being outside and doing something to help the wildlife and planet”.

Year 4 pupil Harry, who is an eco committee member, said: " We wanted to plant as many trees as we could on the school grounds to protect the planet. The eco committee wrote to as many people as possible to request free trees and we were delighted to be successful.”


The Comet: Lordship Farm Primary School pupils are helping to tackle climate changeLordship Farm Primary School pupils are helping to tackle climate change (Image: Lordship Farm Primary School)

Fellow eco committee member and Year 5 pupil Lottie said: "We’re lucky as our school has a lot of green space in the grounds, with a large, grassed field. Our main priorities were to use this space to go green and plant new things. Now we have done that we are excited to watch the trees and hedgerows grow and look forward to caring for them.”

Teacher and eco leader Mr Richard Woodham said “The children and staff at Lordship Farm would like to send a huge thank you to the Woodland Trust and North Herts Green Spaces. When it comes to climate change, planting native woods, trees and hedgerows is one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis.

The Comet: Lordship Farm Primary School pupils are helping to tackle climate changeLordship Farm Primary School pupils are helping to tackle climate change (Image: Lordship Farm Primary School)

"The children here are incredibly passionate about this and are committed to increasing the tree and plant coverage in the school grounds.

“This was a fantastic opportunity for our children to learn about the importance of trees in the fight against climate change but to also improve and enhance their school environment at the same time.

"Projects like this help schools engage with their young people, bringing the school community together particularly in a difficult time and after the impact of the COVID pandemic.”