Woodland Trust Gold Award

Wessington Primary School wins gold for Washington,

Wessington Primary School have been awarded a Gold Award by the Woodland Trust for getting involved in green activities including tree planting, visiting a local woodland, reducing carbon emissions and recycling.

The Green Tree Schools initiative, which has seen more than 12,000 schools sign up since it was launched in 2008, offers the opportunity to bring the great outdoors, wildlife and green issues into the classroom.

Schools win awards for participating in green activities, which include tree planting, reducing carbon emissions and recycling. Wessington Primary School has planted new trees in their school grounds, visited local woods, were involved in recycling projects and joined in various other Woodland Trust activities.

Mrs Burnikell Wessington’s Forest School Leader said: “The children have worked so hard achieving this and it has taught them so much about our environment and how to look after it”

Karen Letten, Woodland Trust schools and communities engagement manager, added:

“The scheme promotes a range of opportunities, each designed to stimulate a child’s imagination and sustain their interest in woods and trees. The achievements of the school are recognised through an awards scheme in which they receive points for taking part in activities. As they reach milestones within the project they will receive bronze and silver certificates and then an attractive wooden plaque which acknowledges they’ve achieved the environmental accolade of a gold award. I hope [Name of school] will now consider going for our next accolade, the prestigious platinum award.”

The Woodland Trust’s vision is to see a UK rich in native woods and trees for people and wildlife. The charity is dedicated to creating new woodland with help from communities and schools, and protecting and restoring ancient woodland for future generations to cherish.

The Green Tree Schools Award is free for schools to take part in, and the Woodland Trust is also offering free packs of trees to schools. Find out how your school can get involved at woodlandtrust.org.uk/schools