Heage Primary School is set in a rural landscape, with open playing fields and a strong connection to its local community. Like many primary schools, it is a place where outdoor space plays an important role and where there was clear potential to introduce trees that would grow alongside the pupils themselves.
Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest worked with the school to turn that opportunity into a well-considered tree planting scheme. The Heartwood team supported the school’s forest school leader, Caroline, to create a planting design that balanced practical constraints of a working school, with a big ambition for learning and nature. And from the outset, it mattered that the trees would feel like they belonged to the children.
Through a free Heartwood tree planting grant, we designed and delivered a scheme covering just over half a hectare and planting 422 trees. This includes mixed native planting on the school field with oak, silver birch, crab apple, aspen and wild cherry, a small orchard in an underused carpark area with apple, pear, cherry and mulberry, and individual standard trees such as lime, hornbeam and oak.
Every pupil took part in planting their own trees, many of which were named by the children on the day.
“It was so heartwarming to see the children connect with their new trees, and name them with their friends. We had lots of happy faces and were able to support the kids to create positive memories of being outdoors with their hands in the mud!”
Ruth Shorten, Forest Coordinator, Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest
As these trees establish, they will shape outdoor learning, provide shade and shelter, and create a shared woodland space that inspires pupils to care for the surrounding landscapes of Derbyshire long into the future.
Project Impact
Education & Learning
422 trees planted across the school site, creating outdoor learning spaces and a living resource that will grow alongside pupils and support hands-on education throughout the year.
Biodiversity
A varied mix of native woodland species and orchard trees providing habitat for birds, insects and pollinators, increasing everyday encounters with wildlife on the school grounds
Water & Soil
New tree cover helping to improve soil structure, slow surface water runoff to reduce playing field flooding, and create more resilient green spaces that cope better with heavy rain and dry conditions.
Health & Wellbeing
Shaded, sheltered outdoor areas supporting play, exploration and calm learning experiences, encouraging positive relationships with the natural world from an early age.
Community & Place
A shared planting effort that strengthens pupils’ sense of ownership and care for their surroundings, helping to foster long-term stewardship of local landscapes.
Funding
100% grant funded through Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest, with site design, advice and planting support provided by our team.
