PUPILS from Whinhill Primary School in Greenock planted trees to celebrate Inverclyde’s Climate Ready Classroom Day.
Schools and community groups across Inverclyde have received more than 1,300 trees, donated by the Woodland Trust, to help create pockets of new native woodland habitat as part of the wider Clyde Climate Forest initiative.
The Climate Ready Classroom Day allowed pupils to gain an understanding of the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis and take action to address these issues by planting trees.
Inverclyde Council is one of eight local authorities to sign up to the Clyde Climate Forest Concordat agreement committing to connect existing woodlands, plant new forests and target urban tree planting in areas vulnerable to climate impacts.
These trees are in addition to more than 13,000 trees planted across Inverclyde supporting the Clyde Climate Forest’s commitment to plant up to 18 million trees by 2032 in both urban and rural areas.
Chris Stark, director of Clyde Climate Forest, said: “I am delighted that Inverclyde Council has committed to our tree planting programme by signing the CCF Concordat agreement. Tree planting is crucial if we are to tackle both the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
“Woodlands and trees bring many benefits to urban neighbourhoods. They help soak up excess rainwater in heavy downpours, create cooling effects in heatwaves, and provide vital carbon storage and wildlife habitat.
“We plan to work with multiple local communities over the next few years with an aim to plant up to 1000 trees in each of our target neighbourhoods as part of our 1000 Trees Campaign.”
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s convener of education and communities, said: “We recognise the importance of net zero and promoting biodiversity and our partnership with Clyde Climate Forest and initiatives such as this are helping us to achieve our environmental aims.
“It’s also crucial that we continue to educate our young people about why tree planting and other carbon reducing projects are so important and ensure that they are part of the valuable work that is being carried out in our schools, early learning centres and in communities throughout Inverclyde.”
Whinhill Primary received 30 trees and pupils from the school’s gardening club helped plant some with the help of former staff member Gaie Brown, who previously helped with gardening activities and continues to volunteer her time.
Liz Ruddy, Whinhill Primary head teacher, said: “Gaie was a pupil support assistant until about a year ago and did a lot of gardening work at the school and is continuing with that and helping out. She has been a big driving force.
“Today is a great day to plant trees because of Climate Ready Classroom Day and the main reason for me in having such a focus on nature and the environment through gardening and STEM (science technology engineering and mathematics) is that the children we have now will be the adults of the future who will hopefully take better care of the planet than past generations.
“Being outdoors is also great for the wellbeing of our children who love being outside.”
Since February 2023, Inverclyde Council has planted 12,639 trees, including 10,627 at Coves Reservoir.
