CHILDREN will be helping the environment by planting almost 2,500 trees over the next few weeks.

Schools in Weymouth, Portland and west Dorset are taking part in the Woodland Trust’s Tree For All campaign and have received their free ‘hedge and copse’ packs.

The charity says it is a positive way to get children involved and excited about the environment.

Tree planting is hands-on and teaches youngsters the importance of nature and inspires them to care for it from an early age.

Tree for All is the largest children’s tree planting initiative in the country.

Since the launch of the scheme in 2004 children in Dorset have contributed to the reinstatement of 128 miles of hedgerows in the UK.

This season the packs will enable more than 2,460 to be planted across Dorset, creating wildlife havens in school grounds and communities for future generations to enjoy.

The packs contain either 30 native hedge trees including hawthorn and hazel or 30 native copse trees including birch and wild cherry.

Among the schools taking part is, appropriately enough, Conifers Primary School in Weymouth.

Conifers is a member of the eco-schools scheme and operates a number of environmentally-friendly initiatives including a recycling regime and regular litter picks.

Reception class teacher Sam Hutchinson said the trees will be planted in the wildlife area near others which were supplied by the trust last year.

“I think it’s a fantastic idea,” said Mrs Hutchinson. “After all, if children are not taught to look after the environment then who will in the future?”

Paul Bunton of the Woodland Trust said: “Since the 1930s half of the UK’s ancient woods have been felled or damaged and 118,000 miles of hedgerow destroyed in the wake of agricultural development. Our hedge and copse initiative attempts to readdress the balance by planting new hedgerows and copses.

“Because of modern lifestyles many children grow up with little connection with the natural environment.

“We want to encourage young people to have contact with nature, increase their understanding and enjoyment of woodland and send out the message that we need to conserve the hedgerows and woods we have left and replace the ones we have destroyed.”

Schools and groups in Dorset can find out how they can get involved in Tree For All next spring by visiting: www.woodland-trust.org.uk/hedge