Future foresters help plant native woodland

Callander Primary School pupils last week (7 Oct) helped plant 150 trees in one morning to help create an new woodland at Coilhallan. 

Working with Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) staff the 23 P5 pupils, and class teacher, Mrs Dempster, planted a mix of native species, including oak, hornbeam, whitebeam and silver birch.

The area at Coilhallan had been clear felled in 2023 because of the confirmed presence of tree disease Phytophthora ramorum. 

Mrs Dempster, said; 

“It was a fantastic morning - despite the misty rain.

“All of the pupils are working really hard towards their Royal Forestry Society Junior Forester Awards, so they were very enthusiastic. 

“Aside from the occasional break to look for toads, they were all so enthusiastic that some of the children wanted to spend the afternoon planting more trees rather than return to school. 

“The FLS team were very welcoming and made the morning a lot of fun as well as hard work.”

The pupils are working towards their Royal Forestry Society Junior Forester Awards through Emma King Outdoors.

FLS plans to manage the forest as a sustainable productive wood in ways that maintain forest health an biodiversity with minimal environmental impact, benefitting the Scottish timber industry, the environment, and the local community.

As well as providing practical experience that will help them achieve their awards, helping to create a new woodland will be a life-long memory for the children and will strengthen their connection to the area. 

Taking part in tree planting might also spark a lifelong interest in the environment and help them appreciate that they can make a positive difference to the natural world around them.

Nik Cox, FLS Area Visitor Services Manager, said; 

“It was great to have such enthusiastic helpers to replant this area, which we’re transforming from a conifer wood into a broadleaf woodland. 

“And I think we definitely had one or two future foresters in the group. One pupil said he was going to ask for a planting spade for Christmas as he’d decided to be a tree planter when he left school.” 

Notes to Editors

1. Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) manages forests and land owned by Scottish Ministers in a way that supports and enables economically sustainable forestry; conserves and enhances the environment; delivers benefits for people and nature; and supports Scottish Ministers in their stewardship of Scotland's national forests and land.
2. Home - Forestry and Land Scotland | X/ForestryLS