Kirklees children help plant over 7000 trees for a greener future
Children from several schools across Kirklees have been contributing to a greener future by teaming up with Kirklees Council to create new woodland areas.
Pupils from Fieldhead Primary Academy, Netherthong Primary School, Kirkburton CE First School and Newsome Junior School helped to plant over 7000 young trees in their local areas.
The children worked closely with Kirklees Council’s Woodland Development team and representatives from local community groups KindleWoods and River Holme Connections during the Autumn/Winter 2023/24 planting season.
The types of trees they planted were specially chosen to thrive in the different soil types at five different sites. They included Oak, Rowan, Hawthorn, Birch, Hazel, and Alder, as well as some fruit trees at the Owler Wood site.
The children also helped to choose names for the new woodlands they had helped to create.
The locations and names of the new woodlands are listed below:
South Brow Woods – off Newsome Road South, Newsome
Owler Wood – off Owler Lane, Birstall
Lady Mill Woods – off Park Lane, Newsome
Fairfield Woods – off Shelley Lane, Kirkburton
Netherthong Woods – off Thong Lane, Netherthong
A year 6 council representative at Newsome Junior School said:
“We really liked having time out of school to interact with different people, the team running the planting were nice and very helpful. “We think it’s good we are helping the environment, and we are excited to watch the trees grow!”
Rooney Kelly, Head Teacher at Netherthong Primary School said:
“The children and staff had great fun learning about how to plant a tree correctly, and getting muddy and wet! “The whole school took part in naming the wood, led by our school government, and came up with some really imaginative names. We are now excited to watch them grow as we grow and will always remember the trees that we planted.”
Councillor Munir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways said:
“It’s wonderful that our school children can be hands-on in creating new woodlands, learn about the benefits they bring to our lives and then watch them grow. As a key partner with The White Rose Forest, we are working towards increasing the Kirklees tree canopy cover by 2050 as part of our Clean and Green priorities, and I’m thrilled that people of all ages from the community are joining us in this endeavour.”
Anyone interested in volunteering for future woodland planting with Kirklees Council can visit www.kirklees.gov.uk/woodland-creation or contact the Woodland Development Team at Trees-Woodlands@kirklees.gov.uk.