Green Team Monitor Success of Winter Tree Planting

TBSHS Green Team Monitor Success of Winter Tree Planting

Sixth Form students at The Bishop’s Stortford High School’s Green Team have completed a comprehensive health and growth check on young trees planted during the last winter season. The “Green Team,” comprising environmentally conscious students from Year 12 and across all year groups, led the efforts to inspect the saplings to ensure they have successfully taken root and are thriving as summer approaches.

The tree-planting project was originally launched as part of a collaborative community effort to boost local biodiversity and environmental sustainability. Working alongside pupils from local primary schools including Richard Whittington and Thorn Grove, the TBSHS team helped plant a variety of native UK species designed to attract wildlife and establish vibrant green spaces for future generations.

During the recent inspection visits, the Year 12 students checked soil conditions, evaluated the growth of the saplings, and adjusted protective guards and supports. Initial findings from the team suggest an exceptionally high survival rate among the trees, a testament to the careful planting techniques and collaborative care, working together with the primary pupils back in November.

The initiative highlights the school’s focus on extra-curricular enrichment, giving Sixth Formers and students across different year groups practical, hands-on experience in environmental conservation, leadership, and community teamwork outside the traditional classroom environment.

The Sustainable Hertfordshire Project will continue to monitor TBSHS’s orchard trees as part of a case study so that planting and aftercare strategies can be shared with other schools who wish to create spaces for nature.               Above: Planting day November 2025

TBSHS staff Ian Murphy and Joanne Slater commented: “It looks fantastic now the trees are in leaf! It is incredibly rewarding to see our Year 12 students and volunteer students from across the school, taking such proactive ownership of our site and the environment after working so brilliantly with the primary schools. Checking the progress of these trees isn’t just about maintenance; it’s about Increasing biodiversity, enhancing the local environment, and establishing green spaces to benefit students and wildlife for generations to come.  Hopefully, they will go on to have a lifelong interest in the environment.”

Headteacher Dale Reeve added: “Our students continue to demonstrate a profound sense of responsibility toward the environment and their local community. Initiatives like the Green Team project embody the core values of our school, showcasing how teamwork and environmental stewardship can make a tangible difference to our shared local environment.”