Acorn Education Trust has planted 350 trees in Tanzania, one for every new Reception pupil joining its schools this September, as part of a new environmental initiative that will grow alongside the children throughout their education.
The trust comprises 21 schools – 17 primary and four secondary – across Wiltshire, with schools in and around Warminster, Westbury, Trowbridge, Devizes, Pewsey and Salisbury.
The project, named The Acorn Forest, has launched in partnership with Treeapp and is designed to welcome new families into the Acorn community while supporting the trust’s commitment to sustainability and achieving Net Zero.
The first 350 trees are expected to absorb 38.2 tonnes of CO₂ over their lifetime, help restore 2,335m² of land and support biodiversity and local communities in Tanzania.
Every September, Acorn Education Trust plans to plant an additional tree for each new Reception pupil, allowing the forest to expand year after year as successive generations of children join its schools. Parents and carers of this year’s Reception children have received a letter from Rob Price, CEO of Acorn Education Trust, explaining that a tree has been planted on behalf of their child.
“To celebrate your child’s arrival into the Acorn family, we have planted a tree on their behalf as part of our commitment to sustainability and our journey towards Net Zero,” he explained. “We have planted 350 trees, one for every new Reception pupil across our Trust, creating the first section of The Acorn Forest in Tanzania.
“Imagine what that will mean for your child. As they progress through school, making friends, discovering interests and developing their talents, their forest will be growing too. By the time today’s Reception children sit their GCSEs or A Levels, the Acorn Forest will have expanded year after year, creating a remarkable environmental legacy that they helped start.”
The initiative is also part of the trust’s wider environmental ambitions, with plans to plant further trees throughout the academic year through activities linked to The Acorn Advantage. Pupils will also have opportunities to get involved through their schools’ Eco-Councils.
Rob added, “We are immensely proud to be launching this initiative with our very first Reception cohort, and we look forward to watching both our pupils and our forest thrive in the years ahead.”
For more information, visit Acorn Education Trust’s sustainability page or explore The Acorn Forest on Treeapp.
