Pupils put roots down for school support for nature

Pupils are helping to create new outdoor spaces to support nature and their own wellbeing.

Denbighshire primary school pupils have planted the roots for the first of this year’s work to increase biodiversity and tree canopies across schools to help nature’s recovery and provide an educational wellbeing outdoor area for the youngsters.

Work began at Ysgol Caer Drewyn and Ysgol Betws Gwerful Goch, two of eight schools that overall will be receiving over 8,000 trees, including hedgerows and fruit trees, to provide stronger habitat spaces for nature to benefit from as well as spaces for pupils to enjoy and learn from local wildlife.

This work has received funding from an £800,000 grant from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

It is also supporting the Council’s drive to reach net carbon zero by contributing to the amount of carbon sequestered (or absorbed).

This work will provide other benefits around the school including improved air quality, urban heat cooling, improved physical and mental wellbeing for pupils and staff, and areas of mixed interest for education and play.

The Council’s Biodiversity team are also continuing to work with schools throughout the year to help develop areas on school grounds to support nature and the learning and wellbeing for pupils and staff.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “We are really grateful to all the schools for taking part to create this important area for nature’s recovery and also for the wellbeing and learning of all the pupils involved.”

Editors Notes

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

Schools involved in this work are:

• Ysgol Tir Morfa, Rhyl;
• Ysgol Clawdd Offa, Prestatyn;
• Ysgol Glan Clwyd, St Asaph;
• Ysgol Penbarras and Rhos St School, Ruthin;
• Ysgol Betws Gwerful Goch;
• Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Cynwyd.