Council tree project plants 1000 young trees with local school children

In October, Thanet District Council collaborated with four Ramsgate schools to plant 1,000 young trees across the town. The young trees (known as ‘whips’) were planted in three separate parks in Ramsgate, with the project engaging over 250 local school children.

The whips were secured via the Government’s Green Recovery Challenge Fund, which also allowed for the hiring of a Community Tree Planting Coordinator, who will be in-role until March 2023. The council applied for this fund earlier this year in partnership with the charity Trees for Cities. Ramsgate was chosen as it fitted the specific criteria for the funding.

The children from Newington Community Primary School were first, planting 250 whips on Newington Green. They were closely followed by children from St Laurence-in-Thanet CE Junior Academy and Ramsgate Arts Primary School, who worked together to plant 500 whips in Warre Recreation Ground, before children from Chilton Primary School completed the thousand, planting the last 250 whips in Nethercourt Park.

Each park was selected for the project as it was in need of increased biodiversity and tree canopy cover. A variety of different species was planted to make each mini woodland more resilient to pests and disease. The aims of the project were woven into each of the schools’ curricula, giving local school children the opportunity to learn about nature, and directly apply that knowledge to their local environment.

Cllr George Kup, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Youth Engagement, said: “It is absolutely fantastic that the council is working so closely with local schools in our actions to tackle the climate emergency. This project instantly adds to the biodiversity of the area, educates local children to take care of their surroundings, and gives the community something that they can watch flourish for years to come.”

Cllr Bob Bayford, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services & Special Projects, said:”It is wonderful to see the school children so eager to protect the planet for their future. TDC released the draft Net Zero Strategy in September and this action is one of the first practical steps we have taken to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the District.”

Thanet District Council and Trees for Cities will also be hosting two tree planting days for adults on Wednesday 16 November at Nethercourt Touring Park (10:00 – 12:30) and Wednesday 23 November (10:00 – 12:30 or 13:00 – 15:30) at Warre Recreation Park.