Woodside pupils, teachers and locals have been celebrating the third birthday of the Wee Forest planted by the pupils of Woodside Primary School.
The Wee Forest was the Northeast of Scotland’s First wee forest. For those that don’t know, it is a densely planted, tennis court sized patch of land, with fast growing native trees, located on Clifton Road across from the school.
The purpose of the forest was to get young people involved in tackling the ecological and climate emergency, while simultaneously providing an outdoor learning space to benefit mental and physical health.
The trees planted were small and it was hoped they would grow quickly over the next few years, and that they have done! At the celebration shmu heard what a success the project has been!
Local Storyteller Grace Banks said “ This was a very boring green field that was hardly ever used by the school except for sports day, but now it’s like a wee jungle in the middle of the field, with all the trees. It started off as sticks, but things have now bloomed and grown and become the most amazing things.
“We’ve got flowers. We have fruit and lots of birds and insects making their homes in there. So that’s success. And not just that, you guys absolutely love it as well, don’t you?”
All in agreement, the kids shared what they love about it too.
“It smells nice with all the flowers, and we are getting strawberries soon. I love being surrounded by all the greenery.”
“I think it’s important to be in nature because it can help with your mental health.”
“I planted a tree when I was in P2 and I’ve seen it grow and grow and grow, and it makes me feel good.”
Isn’t it lovely to hear it’s making such an impact on them! And what a fantastic impact it is making on the community.
World Nature Conservation Day landed on the 28th of July this year, and the Woodside Wee Forest is a prime example of everything this day hopes to achieve round the world.
The day is about raising awareness of the importance of having a healthy environment to create a healthy society and protecting the planets natural resources we have on offer. That is everything from protecting our air, our water, and wildlife.
The Woodside Wee Forest is exemplary of all these things and is instilling these priorities in Woodside’s youngest. This will be a reminder of what their efforts can achieve in tackling climate change which they can continue to check on throughout their lives.
Here’s to many more years of Woodside’s Wee Forest!