Latymer sets new green record!

It’s National Tree Week this week and pupils at Latymer Upper School are thrilled to be setting what we understand to be a new ‘green’ record!  Today sees the entire school community (over 1200 pupils) plant more than 6,000 trees and hedgerows across west London. We believe this is the largest number of trees planted in London by a single school in the space of one day. Our planting sites include Acton Park, Southfield Playing Fields, Elthorne Park, Twyford Crescent and Blondin Park.

Latymer students care passionately about the environment, with many having joined the Global Climate Strike marches earlier this year.   Our current school charity theme, ‘Environmentalism and Sustainability’ was chosen by our pupils who have been busy fundraising to pay for some of the trees to be planted today.  

David Goodhew, Head, Latymer Upper School, says: “I’m immensely proud of our pupils. By planting thousands of trees and hedgerows in west London parks they are doing their bit to help improve air quality for the local community, as well as creating vital habitat for London’s wildlife.  I’m profoundly moved by their strong social conscience and sense of civic responsibility – if the next generation cares so deeply for our planet there is, perhaps, cause for optimism.”

Thanks go to two organisations who have provided the majority of the plants: the Mayor of London, who has donated trees as part of his tree giveaway scheme and TCV (the community volunteering charity) through their partnership with OVO Energy. TCV aims to inspire people across the UK to volunteer to improve local environments and biodiversity in parks and community gardens, nature reserves, wetlands and woodlands.

Darren York, TCV Chief Executive says:  “What an inspiring, fantastic achievement from the pupils at Latymer Upper School who are taking hands-on action to address the climate emergency by planting over 6,000 tree saplings in a single day!  We at TCV, along with our partners the Mayor of London and OVO Energy, who have helped to make this record-breaking attempt possible, have been hugely impressed with their enthusiasm”.

Latymer Prep School will hold their planting day on Friday 29 November, with all 171 pupils planting over 800 trees and hedgerows in Frank Banfield Park.

Our tree planting day also chimes with the IDEALS set by Round Square, of which Latymer is a member. Round Square is an international group of 170 schools from over 40 countries that share a commitment to six principles – their IDEALS -that help shape the education of their students. The Round Square IDEALS are:

Internationalism – Democracy – Environment – Adventure – Leadership – Service

Special thanks go to Simon Richardson from tv production company Proudfoot and filmmaker, and Latymerian, Patrick Smith (1997) for generously donating their time and expertise to create our planting day film.

Author: sdd@latymer