Students at The Mendip School are taking on the challenge of planting more than 200 trees.

On April 1, Students at the special school will venture over from the school on the Bath and West Showground to Wilf's Wood in Evercreech to each plant their own tree. This will mark the start of the partnership between the school and the new community space where it is planned that Forest School and outdoor learning activities will take place.

Head Teacher Natalie Hanna says, "It is going to be a huge challenge getting all our young people to complete planting all the trees in a day but we are really excited to have this opportunity. The students have been learning about the importance of looking after the environment and how trees provide lungs for our earth. It will be lovely for the young people to see the trees grow and some of them produce fruit as they progress through their time at school and are able to spend time at Wilf's Wood."

The trees have been donated by Woodland Trust 'Trees for Schools Campaign' and students will return to see how their trees are growing and changing as the year goes on.

The Mendip School is a special school and has more than 140 students with a range of additional needs. The schools works closely with a number of community projects to offer a range of experiences and challenges to build the life skills and employability skills of the young people. This project will help build confidence and awareness around environmental projects and broaden the opportunities for outdoor learning.

Wilf's Wood wilding project is based on a 6 hectare field just outside Evercreech in Somerset. The aim is to create a community space different from its former use as a traditionally farmed field. It is an ecological project which hopes to act as a focus for community activities and provide a habitat for the diverse wildlife that should inhabit our countryside.

The project is motivated by the climate and ecological crisis and since it started in 2020 has planted well over 500 trees. The aim is to create a natural woodland and community space. Working with local partners, including the school, the aim is to create a food forest, orchard and ponds.