STUDENTS from Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe have been busy tree planting as part of the National Trust Riverlands Project.

As part of an Exmoor outdoor education partnership with the Holnicote Estate, which started last September.

Since then, the students have undertaken a variety of conservation which has helped with their learning and understanding of countryside management and nature friendly farming.

On the Holnicote Estate, the students planted a variety of trees and shrubs including wayfaring, alder buckthorn, field maple and dogwood, among others.

Shrubs such as alder buckhorn and dogwood provide a valuable food source for brimstone and green hairstreak butterflies while hawthorn and blackthorn provide berries and fruit for wintering birds such as redwings and mistle thrush. 

Amanda Di Trolio, outdoor education leader, said: “Our partnership with the Holnicote Estate is an incredibly valuable learning experience for the students and very inspirational for them to be involved with such fantastic projects as Riverlands”.

The Porlock Vale Streams project encompasses the Aller, Horner and Hawkcombe catchments and will build on the work already undertaken by the National Trust in the area.

It is part of a programme of work led by a national partnership of the National Trust, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales.

The three key objectives are to create rivers and catchments that are healthy, clean and rich in wildlife; easily accessed, valued and loved for their heritage and beauty; and the sustainable long term care for river catchments that has a national impact.

The overarching aim of the Riverlands programme is ‘healthy rivers and catchments, rich in wildlife, enjoyed and cared for by all’.

Kingsmead’s tree planting exercise was part of a project funded by climate change charity 10:10 Climate Action.

Max Wakefield, director of 10:10, said: “Trees must play a massive part in rising to the climate change challenge, but national planting rates are in the doldrums.

“Communities can come together to change this, sucking up carbon dioxide, increasing flood protection and improving landscapes.”

At 20 square miles, the Holnicote Estate is the largest countryside property owned and managed by the National Trust.

Paul Camp, area ranger said: “The students always seem hugely enthusiastic about their visits to Holnicote and are really engaged in being part of nature and habitat projects that are happening on the property and help to restore, a natural healthy environment.”