New trees have been planted at a primary school in Newark as part of a campaign to recycle used Christmas trees with the proceeds going towards new whips and saplings around the district.

Newark and Sherwood District Council ran the tree recycling campaign at the beginning of 2020, collecting used real trees for a £5 fee with the money going towards a greener future.

Pupils from Chuter Ede Primary School, Fernwood joined staff from the district council’s Environmental Services team and park volunteer George Smith to plant eight new trees at the school site – comprising two silver birch, two hazel, two rowan and two crab apple trees – which will form a small school woodland in the future.

Pupils Poppy Tull and Jude Smith, both aged 10 (pictured) are two of several school ‘tree monitors’, with duties including weeding around the trees and keeping them watered in spring and summer months.

Jude Smith said: “It’s very exciting. We’re getting our own mini forest.”

Poppy Tull said: “We’re looking forward to seeing what birds and insects they attract.”

Coun David Lloyd, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Trees play an important role in combating climate change and also provide a wonderful habitat for wildlife. We’re delighted Chuter Ede is working with us to create a greener district by encouraging children to plant trees and understand more about the natural world.

“Our last Christmas tree recycling campaign was a huge success with more than £1,500 raised for new trees like these. We will be running the campaign again in the new year and I encourage anyone wanting to dispose of their tree to get involved when the festive season is over.”

Donna Bentley, teaching assistant at Chuter Ede, said: “A big thank you to NSDC for coming to our school and planting the trees for us, this is such a great incentive to recycle your old Christmas trees. We can now look forward to watching the trees and our wildlife area flourish over the years. The children will enjoy being able to take part in more Forest School based activities.”

Used trees collected by the council are chipped and used for path surfacing if suitable, or as a mulch on shrub beds to keep weeds at bay.

Newark and Sherwood District Council will be collecting trees for a £5 fee in the New Year.

Bookings will be available at www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/christmas/christmastreerecycling

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