Trevallyn Primary School prepares for National Tree Day with NRM North and Fifteen Trees

At Trevallyn Primary School, pupils are preparing to help regenerate their open garden play area with new native trees, helped out by NRM North and Fifteen Trees.

Trevallyn Primary teacher Rhona Stevenson has been coordinating the planting along with Anna Povey, and said the school’s spacious outdoor area is so beloved by students it needs regular maintenance.

Involving the pupils in the planting of trees supported by community groups is key to encouraging resilience and teamwork, she said. 

While the ultimate goal of National Tree Day is to get people outside, be active in nature, and do something to help the environment, Planet Ark has also developed research on the benefits of reducing screentime and implementing greater outdoor engagement in schools.

Planet Ark’s 2017 National Tree Day Report showed the impacts of developing childrens’ critical thinking, ‘grit’, and problem solving for the future, and linked it to outdoor activity, education and contributions.

The report’s survey of 200 Australian teachers showed teachers ranked critical thinking and problem solving, grit and emotional intelligence as the most important skills pupils needed to tackle future problems.

NRM North biodiversity project coordinator Alison Hugo said carbon off-set program Fifteen Trees worked with the organisation to supply native species to schools and community groups for National Tree Day and other planting projects.

“These partnerships are a key link to providing resources and support to local groups that are focussed on protecting, improving and maintaining our local biodiversity hot spots,” she said.

National Tree Day is held on July 30, with Schools Tree Day on July 28.

Since it started in 1996, more than 3.8 million volunteers have planted more than 23 million native trees and plants.