Bessbrook Primary School, Bessbrook, Newry
Date: 17 February 2005
No. of trees planted: 100
No. of people involved: 45
Recent drainage problems and machinery to put it right had caused significant damage to a recent tree planting within the school grounds. The school wanted to correct this and add an additional area of hazel coppice to attract a wide variety of insects, birds and mammals.
Two extremely enthusiastic classes helped plant the trees – willows and alder for the damp area; downy birch, rowan and hazel for the coppice area. The coppice area will be cut regularly in the future to provide wood for the children to use and a wonderful habitat for wildflowers to thrive.
This new planting will more than make up for the previous damage caused and provide significant biodiversity benefits for the years to come.