By Hollie Muir, Senior Editor
It has now been 50 years since the official opening of Cramlington Learning Village! So, we are currently in the process of planting of 50 various trees all over the school as a symbol of new growth within the school and the surrounding community.
It has now been 50 years since the official opening of Cramlington Learning Village! So, we are currently in the process of planting of 50 various trees all over the school as a symbol of new growth within the school and the surrounding community.
Our school was established in 1969, and since then it has become a more community based school over the years. Our school has flourished over time and today is a hub for learning, teaching and creating, as well as providing a platform for success. Our motto, “where the science of learning meets the art of teaching”, expressess the way we run as a school, showing off the talents within it. Therefore, planting 50 trees for 50 years will show the many years of new opportunities we have to come, and will also give a little back to the community we live in.
The project we are currently undertaking is encouraged by Tree Appeal, an environmental organisation whose aim is to promote biodiversity, create new habitats and improve the environment for people. Trees are provided for by businesses and companies who want to make a beneficial contribution to the environment, and most trees go to schools in the UK and Ireland. We know that already many people, communities and businesses are positively contributing to the environment by reducing waste, recycling waste and reusing waste, as well as using alternative energy sources. But, this project takes environmental conservation a step further by providing new woodland habitats-both locally and nationally. Tree Appeal has already planted over 300,000 trees across the UK and Ireland, within schools, but also in partnership with woodland conservation charities like the Wildlife Trust. We, as a school are planting a variety of British native trees such as English Oak.
Why plant trees I hear you ask? Well, trees don’t just provide us with the air we breathe but they also give us food, give animals habitats and are a basic building block to improve our environment. Within the UK, we have an aging population of broadleaf trees which are becoming susceptible to storm damage and natural deacy. 19 million trees were destroyed in the storms of 1987 and 1990, and more than 30 million have been destroyed as a result of Dutch Elm Disease. Now, trees are threatened by new diseases occurring due to milder winters because of climate change such as Ash Dieback and Sudden Oak Death. Climate change may increase vulnerability of trees to such diseases through changes in temperature, rainfall and in the frequency and severity of storm events. Acting now is the only chance we have to preserve our woodlands.
Britain remains one of the least-wooded countries in Europe and the small area of surviving ancient woodland is still under threat.
Britain remains one of the least-wooded countries in Europe and the small area of surviving ancient woodland is still under threat. Many of our woodlands are threatened due to being unmanaged or managed for timber. This leads to structural change within the woodlands, so animals and plants may no longer thrive as they did. To help our woodlands, there are small things you can do. One is to join a charity like the Wildlife Trust, which aims to make the world wilder and make nature a part of life, for everyone. By visiting places owned by the Wildlife Trust and donating towards their charity, you are helping to make your community a better place for now and the future. You could also plant your own tree in your garden. This way, you can have a little bit of nature close to you. Or, even just visiting a forest can help you connect with nature. Visit the Wildlife Trust’s website for more information: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/.
So, next time you see a tree, remember that they are the longest-lived organisms in the world. They provide homes and food for millions of species of birds, mammals and insects. By planting trees today we are ensuring the survival of species threatened by habitat loss, maintaining the ecosystems on which ours and animals lives depend on, and preserving our ecological heritage for the future generations of our world. Remember to respect nature and care for it the best you can.
For more information on the Tree Appeal organisation visit: http://www.treeappeal.com/
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