Westonbirt: Pupils help restore woodland hit by ash dieback

Children from a local primary school took part in the planting at Westonbirt Arboretum

Schoolchildren have planted 145 trees to help restore a community woodland.

The work at Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, is part of a project to grow 9,000 trees to replace those lost to ash dieback disease.

Thousands of trees had to be cut down at the arboretum in 2021 after being affected by the deadly fungus.

About 70 pupils from Cam Everlands Primary School helped plant the new trees in the Silk Wood area of the arboretum.

Westonbirt project manager, Oscar Adams, who is leading the project, said the children enjoyed the planting but there was much more to do in order to restore the woodland.

He added: "We have been working with over 200 pupils, across eight local schools, asking them to help design our community woodland.

"The winning design was from a pupil at Cam Everlands Primary School. We are incorporating her ideas into our final woodland design.

"Having the school here allows us to excite young people about trees, woodland management, and heritage conservation - securing the future for Westonbirt Arboretum."

The trees are being planted to replace thousands lost to ash dieback disease

Dominic Knill, head teacher of Cam Everlands Primary School said its pupils had got a lot out of the day.

"Today has been a fantastic opportunity to bring our pupils, from age 6-11, to be part of something bigger.

"They have thrived being outdoors, learning about the need to replace the lost trees and will, hopefully, be able to return in the future with their children and grandchildren to see the trees they planted," he added.