SCHOOLCHILDREN have planted dozens of trees along a bridleway in an aim to raise funds for Ukraine.
The Piddle Valley CofE First School joined hands with the Piddle Path Action Team to plant the 50 trees along the Piddle Path bridleway.
Split over two days, day one saw the entire school walk along the bridleway with each class adopting, and planting ‘their’ tree. Many of the children, aged four to nine, had never planted anything before and there were lively discussions about how to plant and care for the tree – including that the sapling might be eaten by dinosaurs or pandas.
Jayne Browne, headteacher at Piddle Valley CofE First School, said: “The children are excited about returning for regular visits to their tree. Just think of the four-year-olds in Reception enjoying their tree in twenty years’ time when both are fully grown! What a wonderful way to forge a strong bond between plant and child.”
The following day the tree planting was opened to the wider community with people young and old in attendance wielding a spade and a watering can to adopt a tree.
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A total of £345 was raised, which will be split between relief efforts in Ukraine and building a bike shelter at the school.
Earlier in the week, the school hosted a community tea, inviting all Valley residents into the school to watch a presentation about the Piddle Path given by the pupils.
A spokesperson for the Piddle Path Action Team said: “As the natural hub for our Piddle Valley community, the school can play a huge role in bringing together the residents of the three villages whatever their age and interests, and it was brilliant to see the Parish Council listening to eight-year-olds explain that they want the bridleway restored so they can scoot or cycle along it to see their friends.”
On the last day of the spring term the school led its pupils on a ‘Walk to School’ event along the busy B3143 to highlight the need for a safer route to school. Children and staff were kitted out in hi-vis jackets as the large convoy walked from Piddlehinton to the school.
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The Piddle Path initiative is a community-led project which aims to restore the bridleway linking the villages of Piddlehinton, White Lackington and Piddletrenthide, in order to provide an alternative route to the dangerously busy B3143. Once restored, it will allow people to access local facilities without the need to get in their cars.
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