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Quest 10: Growing Project - Visiting a Forest or Woodland Site

Topic Heading:	Growing Project - Visiting A Forest or Woodland Site
Task:	We are going to study woodlands and forests and do a tree planting project in our local environment.
Time:	This lends itself to a longer term period of investigation (1/2 term minimum)

Ideas Bank:

Contact the Woodland Trust and organize a visit to one of their sites.
Alternatively contact the Forestry commission. Or RSPB (have woodland reserves), or Natural England (manage National Nature Reserves etc)
Focus: How we can properly manage our environment?
Contact various agencies for advice on trees, planting and soil.

Suggestions:

Grounds maintenance team (Local Authority)
Local Garden Centres.
Local Authority for advice on potential sites in the community.
Local businesses who might wish to give support funding for the project.
School PTA or Friends who might support the project via fund raising activity.

Focus: Improving the school environment.

Other schools within your cluster who might want to develop a shared project.

Product Success Criteria:

An area within the school grounds or local environment which the children have established as their 'Tree Planting Project'.
An action plan for ongoing maintenance and sustainability.

Conclusion:

Suggest: A good news event. Invite the local media and all supporters to the opening of the area.
Invite a special person to plant one of the trees.

Development:

Monitor and report back on progress and development to The Prince’s Rainforests Project.
Make plans for more projects.

For interesting ways to develop the theme in this lesson please visit the following organisations:

	GLOBE www.globe.org.uk/ GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program.

	Wildlife Trust - Wildlife Watch http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/ Wildlife Watch is the UK’s leading environmental action club for kids. Taking part in Wildlife Watch is an exciting way to explore your surroundings and get closer to the wildlife you share it with.

	Groundwork www.groundwork.org.uk Groundwork works with children in and out of school to illustrate how our individual actions can make a difference to both our immediate surroundings and the global environment.

	Global Action Plan www.appetiteforaction.org.uk Appetite for Action helps primary school pupils connect the food they eat with the environment. GAP offers free downloadable resources that deal with sustainability.

	Kew www.kew.org On a visit to Kew, the wonder of the rainforest will be brought to life as students can experience the fantastic collection of plants from all the temperate areas of the world. There are also special activities, led by the highly skilled and dedicated Kew teachers.

	The Woodland Trust www.woodland-trust.org.uk The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading charity dedicated solely to the protection of our native woodland heritage.

	Natural England www.naturalengland.org.uk Natural England is here to conserve and enhance the natural environment, for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people and the economic prosperity that it brings.

	RSPB www.rspb.org.uk Their work is driven by a passionate belief that we all have a responsibility to protect birds and the environment. Bird populations reflect the health of the planet on which our future depends.

	The National Trust http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ The NT protects and opens to the public over 300 historic houses and gardens and 49 industrial monuments and mills, and also look after forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands, archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves, villages - for ever, for everyone.

	EDF Pod for Greener Learning www.jointhepod.org Find examples of best practice in the quest to reduce the impact of climate change by going to The Pod for Greener Learning. Schools can also apply for funding to improve the sustainability of their schools through the EDF Energy Green Fund.

	Eco-Schools www.eco-schools.org.uk/ Eco-Schools is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed these principles into the heart of school life.

	Project Genie www.projectgenie.org.uk This site has useful information on teaching climate change and issues around sustainability. It also offers a free storybook suitable for 7-11 year olds, which can be downloaded along with lessons that link to the book.

	WWF www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/working_with_schools The website has a free monthly resource pack on biodiversity for schools. Follow the link for more information.

You can use this lesson to work towards an Eco-Schools award
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