Tree-iffic

Pupils at Dykehead Primary School in Shotts were joined by friends and family to plant tree saplings in their playground.

Thirty pupils planted 60 trees and hedgerow saplings as part of a countrywide attempt to create greener spaces.

Over half a million native trees from the Alba Tree Nursery outside Edinburgh have been distributed throughout the UK this month – including 54,330 to Scottish schools and community groups.

This is The Woodland Trust’s single biggest distribution of free trees.

The school also received help from the school’s parent and child gardening group “The Dykehead Diggers”, who recently won a Community Learning and Development award for partnership working.

The trees are being planted to develop an area to encourage wildlife into the school groups, and give the children a space to enjoy learning outdoors.

Acting head teacher Sara Perera said: “The event was great, we were so happy with how many friends and family came to help out.

“We feel strongly that the outdoors is a rich context for children’s learning across all areas of the curriculum.

“In planting these trees, pupils and parents can enjoy this event together but we are also developing our school grounds for generations of pupils yet to come.”