A group of tree-loving youngsters have completed their most ambitious project to date at a picturesque woodland site.
The five junior tree wardens from Freethorpe Community Primary School planted 100 saplings to help form a hedge boundary at Wrongs Covert along the River Wensum near Lenwade.
Wrongs Covert is a 25 acre ancient woodland site rich in fauna and flora, which is owned by Kathy Harris who bought it to open it up for activities and school trips.
The junior tree wardens were brought in to help the project through Freethorpe and Wickhampton Parish Tree Warden John Fleetwood, who volunteers at Wrongs Covert.
Four years ago Mr Fleetwood and fellow tree warden Andrea Rowlands set up the junior tree warden scheme at Freethorpe Community Primary School, the first scheme of its kind in the country.
Pupils join the two tree wardens on one Saturday each month to both learn about conservation and carry out practical tasks.
They may work in the school grounds, both tree planting and carrying out general maintenance in the school gardens, and carry out garden maintenance for senior parishioners.
The 100 saplings planted are part of 800 that Mr Fleetwood plans to plant.
Following the work at Wrongs Covert Mr Fleetwood said: “Owner Kathy Harris is waging a one-woman effort to preserve Wrongs Covert.
“Just perhaps, five young girls have helped in some small way. In any case they have done something which they should be proud of and they can’t wait to return to carry out further valuable tasks.
“These junior tree wardens have learned the value of volunteering and carried out some valuable work. They have learned how rewarding it can be to give their time for free in aid of a good cause.
“We can all learn from them.”
Mrs Rowlands said: “John and I were very proud of them and they were a credit to our scheme, their parents, their school and, of course, themselves.”
By definition, ancient woodlands are areas which have been wooded for the last 400 years.
The creation of the junior tree warden scheme was supported by Freethorpe and Wickhampton Parish Council. For information on Wrongs Covert visit www.wrongscovert.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here