TreeAction for Sussex Schools

Aim

We want to develop tree planting and maintenance projects for more schools to promote better mental health in the young people of Sussex

Tree Action is a not-for-profit organisation in Sussex set up to deliver tree planting projects for schools and organising tree planting and maintenance events for its students. We aim to assist schools so that their students can become part of tackling climate change whilst connecting them with nature. We believe this connection improves their mental well being and gives them a sense of responsibility for a part of our natural world.

Hello, 

I used to work full time in the events business. A couple of years ago I had a few months' experience working in a secondary school with children with special education needs. It helped me to understand the types of the mental challenges some young people face today, including my own teenage son's challenges with OCD. I'm sure some of these challenges children face have been made worse by poverty and by Covid-19.  I see the opportunity to connect children with nature as a means to help them deal with stress, whilst simultaneously giving them the opportunity to be part of the climate solution through tree planting and outdoor biodiversity projects. These can be either at school, or in nearby parks close to that school, as part of their school day. They may not get that opportunity with their families.

I've also found that many schools don't have the time or resources to organise such projects or events. I also saw that tree planting and biodiversity projects are often international or distant, not local, and wanted to find ways that families and communities could connect more with projects on a local level, hence the focus on Sussex where I am based.   

I also found many schools have been able to obtain trees for free, but there hasn't been the support to help those trees to thrive, or support for the students to help them engage in looking after them.

Who We Are

TreeAction currently has seven regular part-time volunteers handling all admin and planning including a volunteer forest school team leader, an arborist, a teacher, two part- time corporate fundraisers, a part-time marketing officer, and myself as a part-time event planner, co-ordinator and schools liaison. We also have numerous volunteers in the Sussex area who step forward often with their families to get involved in tree planting, weed clearing or watering events.On top of that we get support and guidance from the local council's environmental team.

What We've Done So Far

We started by planting over 100 trees in the Shoreham by Sea and Southwick areas of West Sussex with the help of local volunteers. We then turned our attention to schools. We've now worked with two secondary academies, helping them to plan and co-ordinate tree planting projects, and in one case we worked with Warden Park Academy in Cuckfield through the lockdown period to successfully crowdfund and plan for their project which involves planting 57 trees and developing a community garden at the rear of the school. 

"This is a brilliant project not only for the students at Warden Park but for the environment too." - E. Rudden, supporter.

Photos Above: Students of Warden Park Academy potting some self seeded oaks to raise funds for more trees. Below: Year 6 Students of Buckingham Park Primary School planting saplings at their local park. They will be revisiting them regularly to water them and remove any weeds. We will be helping the school devise a regular plan with our volunteer forest school support.

In addition we are co-ordinating tree maintenance events for Year 6 students to return to trees they've planted in their local park, something we have planned and co-ordinated with permission from the local authority, Adur and Worthing Council.

The Assistant Head at Buckingham Park Primary School said in a statement to the local press after a tree planting event that some of the students had never planted anything in their lives, and many of them were raving about their experience afterwards.

What We Want To Do Now

We're looking to be able to support more schools in Sussex planning and paying for tree planting and maintenance projects on their grounds, as well as plan events for young people to get involved in tree planting and maintenance events in the region on a regular basis. 

As a not for profit organisation with limited funds, we now need to raise money to help pay for a trust and grants fundraiser who can work with us part-time to raise even more to help us scale, create other projects and employ a team. This will also help us pay for contractors to do ad hoc work on school projects when we cannot find people who can offer their time for free. The funds raised are intended to help us to achieve this as well as fund two new tree projects. These will be for Buckingham Park Primary School in Shoreham and Eastbrook Primary Academy In Southwick.

This fundraising campaign will enable us to grow and support more schools in Sussex with tree planting projects. One day we'd like to do this nationally.

40% of the funds we raise in this campaign will go towards paying for two specific schools projects we have been invited to support through planning and purchase of established fruit and woodland trees and in one case a water pump to water trees :  

• Buckingham Park Primary School and Shoreham by Sea, who want a plan for more trees and to expand their woodland area for children to play in.
• Eastbrook Primary Academy in Southwick, who want a water pump to water existing trees in their playing field as well as supply water for their vegetable patch. If enough money is raised they can also buy more trees for their Forest School area.  

Above: Part of the site currently used by Eastbrook Primary Academy by forest school teachers. Once a water pump has been paid for there is scope to plant more trees here. Below: Initial proposed plan and locations for additional trees proposed for Buckingham Park Primary School which includes Hawthorn, Cherry, Hazel, Rowan and Pear trees.

In addition to the school projects, we are organising community projects in public spaces in Sussex as one day events that involve watering, planting and tending of trees for people of all ages, working with the local authorities. People love these events. They are an opportunity to connect with nature on a weekend with family whilst doing something positive to support their local environment, and often learn something new. 

Above: Volunteers at a tree watering event at Sheepcombe Hanger near the Cissbury Ring, W.Sussex in April 2021.

We hope you can support us ! We  have some great rewards on offer, please take a look!

This project successfully funded on 19th October 2021