News

• Provost Williams CE Primary School and St Nicholas CE Primary School planted Tiny Forests this week

• Nine schools across Coventry and Warwickshire have now planted Tiny Forests, with 5,400 trees planted across the two counties as a result

• Each site will be an inspiring outdoor classroom for children to learn about nature, and will play an important role in leaving an environmental legacy following Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

The number of trees planted at schools across Coventry and Warwickshire as part of an initiative celebrating the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games has reached 5,400.

This week, Provost Williams CE Primary School in Coventry and St Nicholas CE Primary School in Kenilworth teamed up with Severn Trent to plant Tiny Forests in celebration of the Games.

The initiative, supported by environmental charity Earthwatch Europe, has seen 59 Tiny Forests planted so far across the Midlands region, while 35,400 trees have been planted in total so far as part of the scheme.

As Birmingham 2022’s Official Nature & Carbon Neutral Supporter, Severn Trent is now close to reaching its goal of creating 72 of the tennis-court-sized Tiny Forests across the region, one for each of the nations and territories competing in the Games. 

The sites will help to deliver a lasting legacy for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as well as boosting access to green space in urban areas, supporting environmental education and increasing regional resilience against environmental issues such as flooding, heat stress and nature loss.  

Claire Hall, Headteacher at Provost Williams CE Primary School, who planted their Tiny Forest on Monday, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen by Severn Trent to host a Tiny Forest. The children have been really excited to see the preparation and be involved in the planting day. The forest will enrich our outdoor learning by providing the children with a space to explore a new habitat and immerse themselves in nature.      

“As well as the positive impact on biodiversity, the project will also provide a place that children can access to have time to reflect and be quiet which is so important for their wellbeing. It will be wonderful for the children to watch the trees they have planted grow and change as they themselves progress through the school and on into adulthood.”

Sarah Rayson, Headteacher at St Nicholas CE Primary School, said: “We are really excited to be hosting a Severn Trent Commonwealth Games Tiny Forests, we can’t wait to see the children’s faces as they help to nurture and observe the forest grow over time. 

“We applied for a Tiny Forest as we want to encourage our children to learn about ways they can help the environment and improve the biodiversity of our school. It will also be part of the green legacy we leave to future members of our school. 

“We have exciting plans to maximise the learning potential of our school site, and our Tiny Forest will be a major contribution to fabulous learning about our environment and sustainability, as well as the vital role trees play in our lives. The children are also looking forward to being able to spend time in the forest as they know that being outside supports their wellbeing.”

Severn Trent’s Forest Delivery Manager, Ricky Dallow, said: “We’ve had some fantastic planting days at schools across Coventry and Warwickshire, including our latest sites this week at Provost Williams Primary and St Nicholas Primary.

“As a company that takes care of one of life’s essentials, it’s brilliant to know that each site will become an inspiring outdoor classroom for children to learn about nature.

“These Tiny Forests will not only help to deliver a lasting legacy for the Games, but will also be a real asset to the Midlands.”

Jessica Fidler, Head of Sustainability, Birmingham 2022 said: “Forests help children and young people learn about the environment and sustainability in a really accessible way. They are a great way to help connect children with their local green spaces and show them how they can protect it for future generations and limit their impact on the planet.”

Earthwatch Europe, the environmental charity pioneering the Tiny Forest movement in the UK, is supporting Severn Trent in the delivery of the Tiny Forests, which can attract over 500 animal and plant species within the first three years of planting.     

Louise Hartley, Senior Programme Manager at Earthwatch Europe, said: “Tiny Forests provide rich opportunities for connecting people with the environment and sustainability on their doorstep.  It’s vital that we give people the knowledge and skills to protect our natural world and inspire them to take positive action.  We are delighted to be working with Severn Trent to bring these opportunities to these schools, and communities across the region.” 

Information on volunteering for upcoming community planting days across the region can be found here.