Pupils and teachers at several local schools are working alongside organisations such as Newtownabbey Council, the Woodland Trust and the Housing Executive to plant hundreds of native trees at sites around the borough.

Ballynure Primary School got into the spirit of things last Wednesday, planting a native hedge along their boundary fence. The children and teachers hope this will provide habitat and a food source for birds over the cold winter months.

Other schools are certainly not afraid of getting their hands dirty either. Earlview Primary and Monkstown Community School both took part in a joint initiative by the council and Housing Executive to add some woodland to the Ballyduff and New Mossley estates.

Earlier this week dozens of trees were planted on land adjacent to Forthill Drive (Ballyduff) and at the rear of Ballycraigy Park (New Mossley).

Lindsay Matthews, the council’s Biodiversity Officer, congratulated the schools on their involvement in the project.

“It is great to see schoolchildren outside and enjoying their natural surroundings. Working with the Housing Executive is an excellent way of making efficient use of limited resources. I look forward to future opportunities with them to enhance local biodiversity for the benefit of all.”

Housing Executive District Manager, Mairead Flatley added: “This is an excellent, practical way to raise awareness amongst young people of the importance and value of the local environment now and for the future.”

Next Thursday (December 3) Hollybank Primary School pupils will be busy digging as they enhance the Newtownabbey Way by planting native trees alongside the path at Cashel Drive in a joint initiative between the council and the Woodland Trust. After all their hard work they will be taken on a walk along the Newtownabbey Way to see for themselves what a wonderful resource they have on their doorstep.

In Ballyclare, three schools will brave the cold next week to do their bit for the planting effort. The council, in partnership with Woodland Trust, will lead Ballyclare High School’s Eco-Club, Fairview Primary School and Ballyclare Primary School on tree planting expeditions in the Sixmilewater Park near the leisure centre.

Meanwhile, it isn’t only schools doing their bit for the eco effort, Merville Residents’ Association were joined by Mayor John Scott on Saturday morning (November 21) for a special tree planting event in Merville Garden Village.

Local residents have planted more than 200 trees to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the completion of the Garden Village development.