Pupils plant 100 trees to commemorate Rotary in Bolton

Pupils plant 100 trees to commemorate Rotary in Bolton

Rotarians from Bolton Lever Rotary Club planted the one hundred trees with Year 4 students at Bolton St Catherine’s Academy in a bid to offset carbon emissions, celebrate the charities centenary year and create a new woodland as part of HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee green canopy.

Students at the school learned about Earth Day when Christopher Hill, Deputy Headteacher gave an assembly about the topic. Earth Day, celebrated every year on 22^nd April since 1970 is an environmental movement that for 52 years has resulted in policy change and a greater awareness of the environment.

2022 sees Rotary in Bolton enter its 100^th year of service to the local and international community. Mainly recognised for the fundraising efforts with the Santa Sleigh at Christmastime, Rotary is made up of volunteers that want to make a difference in their community. This year, the Rotary Foundation has added a new area of focus: Supporting the Environment and Bolton Lever Rotary Club has already planted over 2000 trees.

Rotarians had previously supported the students in planting up the flower beds at the front of the school with purple crocus corms to commemorate the near eradication of wild polio throughout the world, thanks to the work of Rotary and so the students asked Mr Hill to approach the club with the idea to create their own Rotary 100 Woodland at the school.

Rotarian Graham Stamford organised fellow Rotarians to attend the school, and plant the 100 crab-apple trees, kindly supplied by the Woodland Trust, whilst teaching the students about the environment, sustainability and care for the planet.

Graham Stamford said: “It was great to be invited back to Bolton St Catherine’s Academy to support them with another of their environmental initiatives. These students are the future of our planet and it’s good to know they have a positive mindset on climate issues”.

The school is being recognised for its environmental action through the Eco-Schools Green Flag scheme. Lianne Cass, Higher Level Teaching Assistant at the school, is leading the initiative with the support of the students’ Eco Club. So far, they have taken part in litter picks in the wider community, planted trees in wasteland and appointed eco monitors to each class who take the lead on differing areas of environmental responsibility such as recycling, switching off unused devices and leading whole school assemblies.

Lianne Cass said: “The children are really taking the lead on our drive to become an eco-school. They are keen to get involved and have already made such an impact. It is good to see that the 100 trees will become a legacy for years to come”.

External Links to further reading:

Why Eco-Schools? - Eco Schools

Supporting the environment becomes a new area of focus | Rotary International

Plant a Tree for the Jubilee - Woodland Trust