Pupils in Smith’s Wood were joined by the Mayor of Solihull last week to help plant new hedgerows, as part of the Council’s ambitious Planting Our Future campaign.
Solihull Council has committed to planting 250,000 trees by 2030. With the help of schools, businesses and community groups across the borough, the Council are on target with over 125,000 trees planted since the programme started five years ago.
This latest event was organised by Planting Our Future who have partnered with Forest Oak School, Merstone School, and Smiths Wood Academy to plant new hedgerows around their school boundaries. During the week, the team oversaw the planting of 1,500 new saplings, called whips. Once matured, the new hedgerows will help to improve air quality, capture carbon and shield the school grounds from the busy road nearby. They will also create a new network of habitats for local wildlife to enjoy.
The initiative brought pupils and teachers from all three of the nearby schools together, strengthening relationships over four days of busy planting.
The Mayor, Cllr Shahin Ashraf MBE, said:
“The new hedgerows we have planted today are an example of how we can work together to protect and enhance our local environment. Everyone from Merstone, Forest Oak and Smith’s Wood Schools have worked hard to bring about long-term benefits. I am very proud of all their hard work and would like to thank the Planting Our Future team and the senior learning team at Forest Oak School for inviting me to join in the fun.”
During February, Planting Our Future is also working with Langley Primary, St Augustine’s, Knowle Primary, and Lighthall School to plant even more hedgerows.
For more information, or to find out how your school or organisation can get involved, please visit Planting Our Future | solihull.gov.uk