STUDENTS from every school in Newent have been out and about planting young silver birch whips, to help wildlife and the planet.

A total of 14 young trees to date have been donated by Newent in Bloom “as part of their campaign to raise awareness of wildlife and the impact of climate change.”

But nearly 100 trees have been planted over the winter in Newent, by both children and adult volunteers, and hundreds more are planned.

Schools taking part in a recent planting day included Glebe Infants, Picklenash Junior School and Newent Community School, and for some it has been a novel experience.

“I’ve never planted a tree before” said 14-year-old Aaron Baker, of Newent Community School.

Birch trees were chosen so that the pupils would be able to see progress before their very eyes.

Newent in Bloom co-ordinator Lynn Ashton, told Aaron: “These young trees can grow 30cms a year, so as long as you remember to water this one it will be taller than you by the time you leave school.”

They are hardy trees too. Silver birches were one of the first species to colonise Britain after the ice age, and they are still common today.

They tolerate poor acid soils, and bear catkins early in spring before many other trees come into flower, making them useful nectar bearers and pollinators for early-flying insects.

Apart from drought, their main enemies when young are rabbits, mice and deer, because the young bark is thin and the sap is very sweet, so all the trees have been protected with spiral rabbit guards which will ‘grow’ with the trees.

“Its so important for the next generation to become involved in caring for our environment,” said Ms Ashton.

Mass tree planting, in fact, is becoming part of both the local and the national scene.

The planting of 100m trees a year in the UK to tackle the climate emergency could be paid for by “new carbon levies” on oil companies and airlines, the government’s official climate adviser has proposed.

The Government’s committee on climate change has also recently recommended a ban on the burning of grouse moors and a ban on peat sales, to help save natural bogland.

The committee has also concluded that there has to be changes with land use, including a reduction in the land used for cattle.