School kids help Rangers plant more than 1,500 trees along footpath
Rangers from the Lake District National Park Authority were joined by a band of little helpers to plant hundreds of trees along a new walking route last month.
Pupils from Captain Shaw’s CE Primary & Nursery, aged from two to 11-years-old, assisted the Rangers in improving a hedgerow bank on Church Lane in Bootle, connecting future generations with the route and landscape around them.
The 0.9km pathway was constructed by the LDNPA’s southern Rangers to link a new housing development, Wellbank, with Bootle railway station through open countryside. The Rangers worked with Bootle Parish Council and landowners to improve the footpath.
After the path repairs were complete, Captain Shaw’s CE Primary & Nursery pupils were recruited to help work towards nature recovery in the area by planting trees into the established hedge. The trees were kindly provided by the Woodland Trust, which is currently running a Free Trees scheme for schools and communities.
The trees will aid in supporting the ecology of the area and create an attractive boundary along the path.
Ray Millard, a LDNPA Ranger in the Western team, said: “We planted over 1,500 hedging trees, mainly hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn with some rowan, rose crab-apple and bird cherry. The hedge when grown up will define the boundary, act as a windbreak, and foster biodiversity by offering food and habitat for wildlife.
“We hope that the local young people involved will enjoy watching them grow while knowing they played their part, and that it will inspire them to keep taking action for the natural environment.”
The enthusiastic school group braved the cold weather to plant the trees in gaps in the existing hedgerow.
Terentius Jackson, Headteacher of Captain Shaw’s CE Primary & Nursery, said: “We are incredibly proud of our children for taking part in this important tree-planting initiative. Opportunities like this bring learning to life and help our pupils understand that they can make a real, positive difference to the world around them. Contributing to the conservation and enhancement of our National Park is something our pupils will remember for years to come.”
Rangers constructed the new route on a farm track over the railway that had become unwalkable after heavy rain. Pipes were installed below the path for water from surrounding fields to flow through and the bank was heightened with mud. Finally, the surface was filled with graded stone to allow for adequate drainage, and compacted.
Russell Kenworthy, Chair of Bootle Parish Council, said: “The refurbishment of the footpath from Wellbank around Inmans farm to the station has been warmly welcomed by the community and was completed by LDNPA rangers and their team working together with the Parish Council and landowners.
“The trees are now starting to grow, improving the footpath, increasing biodiversity and helping to reduce future soil erosion. It is great to have the children involved in the project as they are the ones who will hopefully see this grow into a mature and vibrant hedgerow and enjoy the benefits.”
