Veolia has launched a new campaign to help schools blossom with biodiversity and join a national network of orchards. Following the call for schools across the country to sign up, Veolia and Groundwork will soon be donating 500 trees and 100 bird boxes to 100 primary and secondary schools.
The potential of trees in urban environments to combat the climate crisis is immense, not only in their contribution to increasing biodiversity and improving air quality, but also in their capacity to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures. Therefore, more trees are needed, particularly in urban areas where temperatures are comparatively higher than rural areas and water is scarce. The extreme heat waves experienced in the UK just this summer, highlighted the impact that global warming has on our local natural environments, with many trees losing their leaves like it was already autumn.
By donating orchards to schools, Veolia is placing the power of positive change in the hands of the future guardians of our planet. School children across the country now have the opportunity to plant their very own orchard and learn how to care for them until they bear fruit, providing them with healthy, locally sourced food.
To further encourage biodiversity within the orchards, Veolia and Tesco have teamed up to donate bird boxes made of recycled plastics. Fifty kilogrammes of hard plastics that were once used to safely transport bananas in the retailer’s supply chain will be recycled to become a home for birds, further nurturing the pupils’ wellbeing through a reconnection with nature.
This campaign is being powered by Veolia’s Sustainable Schools programme which launched during the pandemic to continue its work in educating children and young adults on the importance of protecting our planet and the environment. It is initiatives such as this one that are fuelled by Veolia’s purpose to deliver ecological transformation, not just focusing on one issue that pupils are facing, but looking for ways to tackle a range of environmental challenges with innovative solutions.
Schools across the country will begin planting their fruit trees this Autumn as part of a tailored learning programme, supported by Veolia. For more information on how Veolia supports schools and to discover other partnership opportunities please visit www.veolia.co.uk/schools
Veolia also supports projects that improve or protect the local environment through practical action or education in the wider community via its Sustainability Fund. For more information visit www.veolia.co.uk/sustainability-fund
Pascal Hauret, Managing Director, Municipal at Veolia said:
“The extraordinary response to the Veolia Orchard campaign highlights how important trees are, not just for the environment, but for the positive impact they have on the education and wellbeing of school children in our local communities. We’re delighted to be partnering with Groundwork and all the teams look forward to helping this national network of orchards take root.”
