The Woodland Trust can reveal which region’s schools are top of the class when it comes to green activities. The Trust is publishing the first green league table to mark the first anniversary of its Green Tree Schools Award. The scheme, which is free to participate in and open to all, rewards schools who take part in green activities including tree planting, recycling and reducing carbon emissions.
 
In the first year of the award scheme over 2,000 schools across the UK have signed up. The total number of activities undertaken so far by all the schools taking part in the award scheme is almost 9,000 – which means that every single day of the year somewhere across the country there are 25 schools undertaking a green activity.

Lancashire’s schools topped the table out of the 47 regions that have schools registered on the green journey. The results were calculated by collating the total number of schools registered for the awards in each region and adding up the number who had reached gold, silver and bronze level.

10 schools in Lancashire have already received a gold award, which is achieved by earning 15 points in the scheme. These schools include Melling (St Wilfrid) CE Primary in Carnforth and Astley Park School in Chorley.

The scheme offers schools across the country the opportunity to engage children in nature’s playground, bringing the great outdoors into the classroom and getting the most out of learning outdoors. The aim being to awaken and then also sustain children’s interest in nature from an early age.

Karen Letten, schools development manager said: “Positive and inspirational experience of trees and woodland at a young age is a key step towards a long term environmental commitment. It is fantastic that so many schools have joined the Green Tree Schools Award and are improving their environment and finding out more about woods and trees. The award also helps schools to follow the Sustainable Schools framework and the Learning outside the Classroom manifesto.”

Points are awarded for a wide range of inspiring activities from attending a Woodland Trust tree planting event to planting free trees in their school grounds, recycling Christmas cards or taking part in projects such as Nature Detectives and the Ancient Tree Hunt.

To take part schools can register online at www.naturedetectives.org.uk/award

Notes to editors

For media enquiries contact:

The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, email: media@woodlandtrust.org.uk

The Woodland Trust:

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland.

Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.