Pupils dig into tree planting

Using the outdoors can contribute to personal growth and social awareness of young people, while enhancing many other curriculum areas. The Board’s outdoor education centres at Woodhall and Bushmills provides that outdoor environment, helping to contribution to the social, physical and environmental education of young people. It is hoped that by including young people from various schools to plant hedgerows they will develop qualities such as a sense of responsibility, which will encourage them to nurture their environment.

Year 8 students from Crumlin Integrated College worked alongside Woodhall Residential Centre staff to plant numerous shrubs and trees. Teacher and co-ordinator of the event, Dermot Black, commented: “The students were excellent to work with, were very enthusiastic, became engrossed in the activity, learning very quickly and understanding the importance of helping each other to benefit others in the future,” said Mr Black.

Woodhall Residential Centre staff have applied for a further 400 trees which will be planted around the grounds supporting the Woodland Trust philosophy that trees are an important part of our landscape and environment and new planting is essential to replace trees lost through natural decline or development.