PRIMARY schools in Salisbury and across Wiltshire are being offered free tree packs by the Woodland Trust to transform grounds and surrounding local communities into tree-mendous spaces.

It follows a successful pilot which saw 990 trees delivered to schools in Wiltshire this spring.

Youngsters are getting the chance to connect with nature, and can look forward to planting a copse or hedge, for a wild harvest, or a burst of year-round colour.

For schools where space is in short supply, there is help with finding somewhere else to plant it.

There are also online curriculum-linked resources to support lesson plans.

The initiative is being funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, as part of a four-year plan to give children the chance to understand and connect with nature and make their school grounds and neighbourhoods cleaner and greener.

The scheme is open to more than 7,000 state-funded primary schools in England.

To receive packs of saplings in time for planting this autumn, schools need to apply to the Woodland Trust by September 9.

Beccy Speight, chief executive of The Woodland Trust, said: “These children might never otherwise get a chance to plant a tree, and that’s vitally important.

“We know from our research it’s a memory they’ll treasure for years to come, and often starts their relationship off with the natural world and all the benefits that brings.

“This scheme offers schools, which have found it hard in the past, a new way to plant trees and bring an oasis of green into their community.”

Schools can apply by visiting the Woodland Trust website or searching for ‘school tree packs’ online.

Over the next four years, Defra will be supporting the Woodland Trust to deliver 400,000 trees into primary schools in England.

* The Woodland Trust has designed new “tree party” packs for families in Wiltshire to use outside over the summer holidays.

The packs include lots of activities to enjoy in the company of woods and trees including a spotter sheet, scavenger hunts, straws and sticker books and much more.

The Trust wants to encourage families and friends to host a picnic in a park or woods.

Families are then encouraged to send in their picnic photographs, stories and recipes to the Woodland Trust to win Sainsbury’s vouchers to the value of £1,000.

Visit woodlandtrust.org.uk/treeparty.