A PROGRAMME that teaches children about trees has received a special award.

Trees for Dorset has been given a Wessex Watermark Award for £500 for their school education programme ‘My Life, My Tree, Growing Together’.

The cheque was presented by Wessex Water’s Supply Distribution Controller Simon Burdett at a special ceremony held at Milborne St Andrew First School, one of the five schools in Dorset signed up to the scheme.

The programme began eight years ago and Trees for Dorset now has many schools waiting to sign up to the popular hands-on tree education programme.

A qualified project officer visits each school six times a year and the children are involved from the beginning with a tree they grow from a seed.

After four years the tree is planted in the community and the children are responsible for the care and nurturing of their tree.

Sharon Hunt, headteacher at the school, said: “The children absolutely love learning the programme, and when they’re outside in their coats and wellies and gloves, learning about nature they are really engaged and switched on.

“After they plant the trees they get to see them grow from start to finish and it gives them a sense of responsibility.

“We are very lucky to be one of the five schools involved with Trees for Dorset.”

Growing Together links pupils with their natural environment and allows them to learn about local wildlife.

Rachel Palmer Trees for Dorset Chairman said. “The children learn practical skills of observation and identification and have fun while they are doing it. Most of all the children learn about the natural cycle of trees as Simon will see when he joins one of our classes at Milborne St Andrew First School.

The Watermark Award provides funds for environmental projects within the Wessex Water area.