Gallery: Batchwood School Tree Planting

Batchwood School Tree Planting

England rugby player Chris Ashton and former England footballer Alan Smith both put their backs into a tree planting session with students at Batchwood School on Wednesday 19th March. In a bid to plant a total of 240 trees funded by The Big Tree Plant scheme, they helped to plant a Beech tree and an English Elm, two trees representing two of the school House Teams. The third Oak tree representing the last School House Team will be planted over the next few days close to the new school orchard containing Hertfordshire Heritage varieties of plum, cherry, pear and apple trees.

This massive tree plant forms part of Batchwood School's bid to develop its Outdoor Curriculum, giving students as many opportunities as possible to learn outside the classroom. The students have been working alongside tree surgeons to clear and restore a stretch of woodland along the edge of the school grounds in order to improve wildlife habitats. They are also creating a multi-species willow plantation in which they will grow osiers for willow weaving and hybrid willows as an experiment in Bio Fuel production. As a special school for students with emotional, social, behavioural difficulties, the students are also planning to make these outdoor spaces places in which they can relax and play.