Bradford Council’s pledge to plant a tree for every child - 55,000 trees – over the next two years has taken a first step with new trees at Addingham Primary School.
Its Trees and Woodlands team planted 55 trees in the school grounds this week with some help from the children. A further 200-300 trees are set to be planted here in 2021.
The Tree for Every Child project was launched last month when tree planting work at Horton Park Primary and the Canterbury Estate featured on the BBC’s Countryfile programme. The Council is investing £250,000 into the tree planting programme. Schools and community groups have been invited to express an interest in taking part in the project, with a number of options, including a school orchard, native trees for the school grounds, or contributing to new woodland areas.
The council is working with a range of partners to deliver this climate action, including, Trees for Cities, Forest of Bradford (BEAT), Fruit Works (Bradford and Leeds), Bradford Environmental Education Service, Yorgreen CIC, Town and Parish Councils
Funding support has been provided by The Dulverton Trust, The Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund and The Arbor Day Foundation. As well as The players of the Postcode Lottery.
Hilary Cave, Headteacher of Addingham Primary School said: “Tree planting is an incredible way for young people to connect with nature whilst helping the planet. Planting trees is an easy and long-lasting way to involve pupils to have a positive impact on the climate.
"The Tree for Every Child project fits it perfectly with the work we are currently doing as a school to develop our environment through our Green Heart of Addingham project with support from the Addingham Environment Group. Our pupils are passionate and highly knowledgeable about climate change and as a school we are keen to engage in projects that help to make a difference to our community’s carbon footprint.”
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Portfolio Holder for Healthy People and Places said: “Our Tree for Every Child project is a massive and ambitious tree-planting target, but we feel that it will go a long way towards increasing the number of trees across our district and helping families have more access to trees and green spaces which benefit our wellbeing as well as improving our environment.”
Planting trees is a major factor in tackling climate change – a single tree can absorb 22kg of carbon dioxide per year and 100 square metres of woodland can store nearly four tonnes.
Tree planting and A Tree for Every Child are one of a number of measures Bradford Council is taking to tackle climate changes and reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2038. More details on other work being done can be found here.