15th April 2024

South Devon College is putting more roots down within Torbay after receiving a generous donation of saplings from the Woodland Trust.  

All staff and students at the College were invited to help with the tree planting to promote wellbeing whilst taking steps towards the College’s sustainability goals. 

The Woodland Trust has kindly given the College 420 tree saplings, including silver birch, hazel, common oak, wild cherry, holly, blackthorn, crab apple, elder, and dog rose, and the College community got to work planting them in their new home in the field next to the College’s astroturf football pitch. Wellies were donned, spades were wielded and staff and students came together in the spring sunshine to plant the saplings, some in memory of loved ones. 

The Learning Opportunities students were involved throughout, from designing a planting scheme to digging, and they did a sterling job, planting rows of the saplings in a couple of hours.  

Student Matt said: “We do gardening every Tuesday afternoon, such as propagation and planting, and the produce gets used in the College kitchens, so I also enjoyed planting the trees. I would like to work in a garden centre one day.” 

The College purchased canes to support the trees and some biodegradable tree guards to protect them, so they will grow and flourish for years to come. 

Student Mia said: “I really liked planting the trees, and the tree guards will protect them from rabbits. I would like to come up here in the future to see the trees I planted when they’re fully grown.” 

^{Student Mia hard at work planting saplings}

Andy Clarke, the College’s Site Coordinator who organised the event, said: “We were so pleased our application to the Woodland Trust was successful and the donation included so many varieties, from hedging plants to bigger trees like oaks. We’ve also planted foraging trees, such as cherry trees and crab apples, so that produce can be used when they start producing. 

“The horticulture students developed a design where the lower hedging plants are placed in the first few rows, with the larger species going at the back of the field. We will feed the trees until they are established, then they will continue to grow without a lot of maintenance. 

“It’s been lovely to have the staff up here as well, helping with the planting, as it benefits their wellbeing. And some have planted trees in memory of loved ones, which is wonderful.” 

^{Organiser Andy Clarke}

Charlotte Paulden, Student Liaison Officer in the College, concluded: “The tree planting is a great opportunity to promote our sustainability, and we’d like to continue this planting effort every year. 

“The planting took place on open yet sheltered ground that is not going to be developed, so the trees will live and grow here for decades to come!”  

Sustainable Development Goals that align with this story: