Orchards for Schools

2nd March 2021

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STUDENTS AT HELSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE GET FRUITFUL BY CREATING AN ORCHARD WITH THE TREE COUNCIL

The students join a national #ForceForNature inspired by The Tree Council’s Orchards for Schools project.

Eleven Year Seven students at Helston Community College have become a force for nature in their community by planting a new orchard in the college grounds on the South Site.

Helston Community College received an orchard pack from The Tree Council’s Orchards for Schools initiative. The scheme, which offers free orchard and fruiting hedgerow packs to schools around the country, is inspiring teachers and pupils to get outdoors, plant and care for fruit trees and hedges.

They planted the orchard in very cold and windy conditions on February 11^th 2020 and worked hard to ensure the best start for the young fruit trees, clearing away grass and weeds; ensuring the soil was loose and watered; staking and mulching them after planting. The students worked well as a team and will continue to care for the trees throughout the academic year.

Schools and students have faced a very challenging year as they deal with the impacts of coronavirus. Planting a fantastic school orchard helped to reconnect students with nature and each other, and gave them an opportunity to spend time in the outdoors, making themselves and their school environment healthier.

Sara Lom, CEO, The Tree Council, said: “We know that young people are an inspirational force for nature. The Orchards for Schools programme allows young people to plant fruit-bearing, wildlife-enhancing, carbon-storing orchard or fruiting hedgerow, a lasting and leafy legacy for their school! In what has been a very challenging year, the project allows young people to re-connect to nature and each other, and to share what they have learnt about the amazing power of trees.”

The Orchards for Schools project is organised by The Tree Council and their delivery partners The Orchard Project and Learning Through Landscapes.

Helston Community College is committed to improving the environment for students, the wider community and for the future and is therefore delighted to have worked with The Tree Council to provide another habitat for pollinators and birds on the College site. The orchard will also provide fruit at a later date, which can be enjoyed by the students and their families.

About The Tree Council

The Tree Council is a charity and umbrella body bringing everyone together with a shared mission to care for trees and our planet’s future. We inspire and empower organisations, government, communities and individuals with the knowledge and tools to create positive, lasting change at a national and local level.