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Ysgol Plas Coch leads the way on tree equity thanks to Woodland Trust support

Sophie Thomas

Digital Communications Officer - Wales

Ysgol Plas Coch in Wrexham has taken meaningful action to improve its local environment by planting new trees with support from the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund.

The planting project aims to tackle poor air quality, reduce noise from nearby roads and create a healthier, greener space for pupils and the wider community.

The school was identified as a high-priority site using the Woodland Trust’s Tree Equity Score – a tool that highlights where tree cover is low and where additional planting can have the greatest impact. At Ysgol Plas Coch, the score showed that increasing canopy cover could help buffer traffic noise and support cleaner air quality for pupils.

 

Pupils at Ysgol Plas Coch got hands on as they helped plant a fruit orchard, a native hedge and standard trees.

Credit: Sophie Thomas / WTML

With guidance from the Woodland Trust and funding from the Emergency Tree Fund, pupils planted a fruit orchard, standard trees and a mixed hedge of native species chosen to thrive in the urban environment and deliver long-term environmental benefits. The school has also installed air quality sensors, enabling pupils and staff to monitor changes over time and better understand how trees directly improve the conditions where they live and learn.

The project, delivered in partnership with Wrexham Council, demonstrates how practical, community-led tree planting can improve wellbeing and support climate resilience. It also showcases the enthusiasm of pupils who are keen to protect their local environment and contribute to a fairer distribution of tree cover across the city.

Osian Jones, headmaster at Ysgol Plas Coch, said:

"The pupils at Plas Coch really enjoyed and benefited from taking part in the tree planting project. As well as increasing the tree coverage in this part of Wrexham to improve the air quality for the present and future school community, it gave the pupils hands-on experience as part of our curriculum, in particular as our current theme is 'On Our Doorstep’. The pupils have learnt new skills that they will be able to use as they develop to be responsible citizens."

Hannah Farnell of Wrexham County Borough Council said:

"It has been great to see the pupils have fun planting trees to improve their playing field, taking first-hand action to improve the Tree Equity Score in their community. I look forward to seeing the orchard trees and hedge develop and become an important addition to the school grounds."

As the trees and hedge grow, it's hoped they'll reduce traffic noise around the school and boost air quality.

Credit: Sophie Thomas / WTML

Jacinta Challinor, tree equity lead for the Woodland Trust, said:

“Tree equity is about ensuring that everyone, no matter where they live, has access to the multitude of benefits trees provide, such as shade and clean air. Ysgol Plas Coch is demonstrating how schools can maximise the potential of their school grounds to support present and future generations of pupils, leading the way to tackle environmental challenges at a local level.

"With support from our Emergency Tree Fund, pupils have created a greener space that will improve health, resilience and learning for years to come. We hope this inspires other communities across Wrexham and beyond to take action and plant for the future.”

The Woodland Trust encourages other schools and community groups interested in similar projects to get involved. Free trees and expert advice are available to help communities plant in the right places for the greatest benefit.

Everyone can use the Tree Equity Score tool for their own neighbourhood to understand where trees are needed most – and discover how the Woodland Trust can support local action to create greener, healthier places for all.

 

Notes to editors

The Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund supports councils and communities to increase tree cover in areas where it is needed most.

Ysgol Plas Coch is a Welsh-medium primary school in Wrexham.

The Woodland Trust offers free trees for schools and community groups across the UK.

For media enquiries, please contact: Llinoshumphreys@woodlandtrust.org.uk

About the Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw)

The Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw) is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK with more than 500,000 supporters. With a vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, today the Trust owns and cares for more than 1,000 woodland sites, covering around 33,000 hectares.

The Woodland Trust has three key aims:

  1. protecting the UK's rare, unique and irreplaceable ancient woodland
  2. restoring damaged ancient woodland, nurturing precious pieces of our natural heritage back to life
  3. establishing new native trees and woods to create healthy, resilient landscapes for people and wildlife.

Access to all Woodland Trust woods is free so everyone can experience the physical and mental benefits of trees.