School’s healing wood continues to blossom

Yesterday (3 December 2024), pupils, volunteers and members of the local community planted a further 200 trees to form hedging and trees in its forest school area. Eight oak trees were also planted in the centre of the woodland.

In March 2022, the primary school began work on creating a healing wood, in response to Suffolk County Council’s ambition to create these reflective spaces around the county.

The wood is now open for the public to enjoy and reconnect with nature. Its design features wide open pathways, rides and glades, that lead to the heart of wood.

The site can be used by the community to host social events and activities, and serve as somewhere residents can reconnect with nature, as well foster new connections with one another.

Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality, said:

“Trees and woods play a crucial role in our well-being, they provide us with a space to reconnect with nature and ourselves.

“We know just how much spending even just a short time outside in nature can positively impact our mental health and well-being and I’m delighted that the council has been able to support Howard Community Academy with planning and expertise – and a big thank you to the children, teaching staff, and all the partners involved for making this possible.”

Trees planted in the wood include native Suffolk Eastern Claylands tree species, chosen to reflect native woodlands commonly found in Suffolk, comprising of Hornbeam, Wild Cherry, Crab Apple, Birch and Oak.

There is also one very special tree in the woodland - a silver birch from the Tree of Trees, constructed in the Mall for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. It is one of only four gifted to Suffolk as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project.

Alison Weir, Headteacher at Howard Community Academy, part of Anglian Learning, said:

“The healing wood provides an excellent space for outdoor learning, where children can experience a wealth of nature on their doorstep in a safe, accessible hands-on way.

“Pupils are able to see their woodland grow and develop throughout their primary school years, learning about the benefits of trees and the diversity of life they can support. We’re all enthusiastic about involving pupils in on-going woodland management activities, teaching children how to care for young woodlands, in doing so enhancing their relationship with nature.”

Frank Carn-Pryor, Sports & Outdoor Activity Officer at Abbeycroft Leisure, runs the Forest School sessions at Howard Community Academy and has worked with the school and Suffolk County Council to secure the healing wood and silver birch:

“We’ve been so pleased to be a part of this project from the start and we see how the children benefit and thrive from taking part in physical activity outside, as well as learning to respect and care for their natural environment.”

This latest phase of tree planting received additional funding from Bury St Edmunds Town Council, Suffolk Community Foundation and Nineveh Trust.

Also planted was a crocus bed, in partnership with Bury Rotary Club and their “End Polio Now” campaign.