The Down’s School Eco Club plants 200 trees in bid to boost sustainability and biodiversity

Pupils at The Downs School recently spent two days planting 200 sapling trees in its grounds to boost biodiversity.

The initiative, led by the Eco Club with support from councillor Carolyne Culver (Green, Ridgeway) and environmental sustainability company Carbon Footprint, demonstrated the school’s commitment to its Climate Action Plan.

Head of Geography and sustainability lead Helen Hicks said: “Our Eco Club students have worked so hard over the past three years.

“It’s about more than planting trees; it’s about fostering a sense of stewardship and showing our students they can make a real difference for the environment."

Headteacher Chris Prosser added: “It’s inspiring to see young people so dedicated to environmental causes.

“The tree planting event is another brilliant initiative and it is so rewarding to see remain firmly focused on creating a more sustainable future.”

The project also aligned with the Government’s target for all education settings to have a sustainability lead and climate action plan by 2025.

The native sapling trees include Blackthorn, Crab Apple, English Oak, Silver Birch and Hawthorn.