Redscope Primary pupils plant over 300 trees to create 'tiny forest' in community

PUPILS helped nature take root in their community when they kickstarted their own “tiny forest”.

Redscope Primary children and staff worked together to plant more than 300 trees donated by The Woodland Trust, education and activity organisation Endeavour Sheffield and plant nursery Sheffield Fruit Trees.

Rotherham Council officials and volunteers from Liberty Steel and Rotherham United Community Sports Trust also helped out.

Foundation stage teacher Emilia Taylor said: “We are trying to develop our own forest school and we are planting a tiny forest to improve biodiversity and make a stronger connection between nature and the children we teach.”

Ms Taylor said the school was making use of an unused area on the grounds which was usually inaccessible due to the damp ground conditions, while the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Tajamal Khan, dropped by to briefly wield a spade himself.

Ms Taylor said the new woodland feature was the brain child of Phil Kitchener — also known as Forester Phil — who runs outdoor learning sessions at Redscope.

Ms Taylor said: “We hope to increase the biodiversity of our field, whilst teaching the children a love and respect for nature.

“We want to create a forest school to allow all the children time to learn outside and improve physical and mental wellbeing, and this was the launch of our Back to Nature project.”