Pupils Plant Trees to Keep Natural Habitat Alive

A LOCAL school currently undergoing an extension held a tree planting day, enabling pupils to re-plant some of the trees and shrubs that have been lost due to the building work.

Construction work started at Forest and Sandridge Primary School in October half-term and is due to be finished in the 2023 summer holidays.

The extension will include four additional classrooms, a studio space, two group rooms, additional toilets and storage. Additionally, internal works to the existing nursery space will enable a new reception classroom to be formed, and the existing car park expanded for staff parking.

To ensure children could still watch and look after a natural habitat at the school, town councillor, Louisa Lewis, applied for free trees from the Woodland Trust. She said, “The school is losing lots of its trees and shrubs that the children had planted over the years because it is being extended to accommodate more pupils. I applied for free trees and was lucky to be successful. The trees were given to us by the Woodland Trust and the management company who own the field had agreed for us to plant some trees and shrubs.

“The idea is to use this area to form a natural habitat so that the pupils can watch and look after it for many years. I contacted the school and Kathryn Bacon, one of the teachers, was very keen to involve the pupils.

“The children were amazing, I explained that this was their project, and it was up to them to care for the young plants. They were so enthusiastic; these trees and shrubs are their legacy. We have planted over 100 tree and shrub whips.

Thanking those that helped support the day cllr Louisa Lewis said, “I loved planting the trees with the pupils and want to thank Kathryn Bacon and the teachers, parents and grandfather of a pupil who helped, Richard Collette a local horticulturist who spent the whole afternoon preparing the site for the children and helping the children plant the trees, his knowledge and help was amazing, and Joe McCann from Melksham News who helped dig over 100 holes and then stayed to report on the event. I will continue to work with the school to help develop this space into a natural habitat.”

Teacher and outdoor learning lead, Kathryn Bacon said, “Forest and Sandridge Primary School were delighted to be asked by Melksham town councillor Louisa Lewis to help plant over 100 tree saplings on the recreational ground next to our school.

“We have already planted hundreds of saplings in our own school grounds and so it was a privilege for the year six children from Oak class to also plant trees in and for our local community. Trees have so many benefits, from creating a habitat for a wide range of wildlife, to providing shade and shelter and an environment for us all to enjoy.

“All the children enjoyed being part of creating something for the future and as a school, we are looking forward to helping look after the trees and watching them grow. We also hope to be able to add extra features over time, such as bug hotels, to help develop the wildlife area further.”