Our idea

Canonbury Primary School, as other schools, has experienced an unprecedented heatwave last Summer. Parts of the school were too hot to stay in. A number of children had to sit outside under gazebos as a counter measure. 

It is certain that such heatwaves will happen again. They will also be more intense and last longer. We need urgent action now to protect the children and the staff.

We are going to plant trees on the school grounds. This will shade the side of the building that is most exposed to the sun, as well as the much exposed nursery playground, and sections of the main playground. 

Trees are among the top recommended actions to adapt schools to climate change. This is a long term, natural response to the challenges school children and staff are already facing and will face in the future.

Compared to other, artificial solutions to cooling the buildings and the yard, planting trees at Canonbury Primary School presents many advantages:

• trees can lower temperatures by up to 10 degrees Celsius - artificial solutions may achieve only a fraction of that;
• trees provide multiple shading, to ground as well as walls;
• trees contribute to absorption of excessive water run-off, which otherwise risks flooding parts of the schools or the broader area;
• trees improve air quality - a particular concern at Canonbury given the proximity of the school to a very busy road and roundabout;
• trees provide opportunities for sensitisation to climate change and nature solutions for school children and their families;
• the grounds of Canonbury primary school, being a former orchard, are well suited to planting more trees.

We are aiming to do as much as we can this year: carry out the works, order and plant the trees by the end of March 2023. Any planting we will not manage to do this year, we will do in the winter of 2023-24.

Who we are

Islington Clean Air Parents is a network of parents and carers working to reduce air pollution and increase vegetation in the London Borough of Islington. We are working closely with relevant authorities, supporting or running projects throughout the borough.

Islington Clean Air Parents is behind the Forest For Change project, which led to planting 200 trees in and around Ilsington.