Little Brodie from Usk Primary School poses proudly beside a tree which she claimed was planted to represent the birth of her new baby brother during a visit to her local woodland.
Cefn Ila woodland was created two years ago as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Plant! project which aims to plant a tree for every new baby and adopted child in Wales.
Every parent also receives a certificate to record that a tree has been planted to celebrate their new arrival – and six-year-old Brodie took her little brother’s certificate to school to show her classmates before they set off to explore the woodland.
Reception children enjoyed a morning visit to Cefn Ila followed by the year 1 children, who took part in a minibeast hunt organised by Juliette Staples of the Forestry Commission Wales Woodlands for Learning team.
The year 1 children helped to plant some of the saplings last year and were thrilled to see how the trees had grown and explore the emerging woodland, which is managed by the Woodland Trust.
All the children left with a leafy crown on their heads, bug bling around their necks and smiles on their faces.
The Plant! project was launched in December 2007 and aims to give children and young people a sense of ownership of the natural environment and encourage them and their families to enjoy the outdoors and learn a range of skills, as well as improving their physical and mental health.
The other Plant! sites are located in Coed Ysgubor Wen near Tywyn, north Wales and at Coed Bryn Oer, near Tredegar.
By planting more trees the Assembly Government aims to create a Welsh National Forest which will help to fight climate change as the trees will act as a carbon sink.
