Prep achieve platinum award on Forest School scheme

Truro School Prep has been awarded a platinum award by the Woodland Trust for getting involved in green activities including tree planting, visiting a local woodland, reducing carbon emissions, and being a woodland ambassador. Only 134 schools nationwide have achieved this level, and in the South West region, seven have platinum status.

The Green Tree Schools initiative offers the opportunity to bring the great outdoors, wildlife and green issues into the class room. Schools win awards for participating in green activities and completing modules, both in and out of the classroom.

Over a ten-year period, Truro School Prep has planted in excess of 500 trees over the school grounds, have visited local woods, and created a woodland nature trail within the school grounds.

Natasha Mikail-Jones, Forest School Coordinator, explained: ‘We have worked our way up the scheme, and for this particular award the children enjoyed dressing a tree using tools within our school woods. The pupils get excited about their Forest School lessons, having the chance to bring learning to life outside of classroom walls, and getting them out and about in nature at an early age is a fundamental key to their learning and development’.

Karen Letten, Woodland Trust Schools and Communities Engagement Manager, added: ‘The scheme promotes a range of opportunities, each designed to stimulate a child’s imagination and sustain their interest in woods and trees. The achievements of the school are recognised through an awards scheme in which they receive points for bronze, silver, gold and at gold an attractive wooden plaque which acknowledges this environmental accolade. Only a handful of schools have moved on to achieve platinum, making this a huge accomplishment for Truro School Prep’.

The school, in cooperation with the charity, is dedicated to creating new woodland as well as protecting and restoring ancient woodland for future generations to cherish.