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Jun 2021

Last Updated: 01/06/2021

Environment

Ripon students to plant hedges in battle against climate change

by Tim Flanagan

| 02 Jun, 2021

The UK’s first National Hedgerow Week runs until Sunday and to mark it, students at Ripon Grammar are planning a massive hedge planting scheme on the school’s 23-acre site.

Ripon Grammar students are planning a massive hedge planting scheme on the school’s 23-acre site.

The young environmentalists are highlighting the huge contribution hedges make in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

The national event, will be shining a light on these unsung heroes of the natural world and raising awareness of the threats they face.

Year 8 student Edward Cassell, pointed out:

“Natural hedgerows are the most effective and safe home for baby chicks and fledgling, who often fall from their high treetop nests.

“It is also a brilliant way to combat climate change, as each square foot of hedge will house multiple plants which all act as carbon sinks.”

Sixth former Funmi Sowole added:

“The hedges planted at RGS will also help bring back biodiversity in coming years, which is a really exciting prospect.”

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Following a challenging year of lockdowns and restrictions, pupils are enjoying reconnecting with nature while spending time outdoors together working on the project.

They will plant six wildlife-friendly hedges, made up of 3,000 hedgerow trees and shrubs, on the school’s 23-acre site, which includes several small, wooded areas and a dedicated wildlife plot

As well as creating a damson hedge and wildlife harvest border, they will plant hawthorn, beech, hazel, crab apple, dogwood and buckthorn and bird cherry.

History teacher David Bruce, who supports the school’s student-led Wild RGS eco-committee, said:

“Our goals are environmental and educational: to promote the bio-diversity of the school site through the provision of much-needed wildlife habitat and corridors

"But also to use the hedges to educate our young people and the wider Ripon community about the ecological and cultural value of hedgerows.”

In addition to campaigning for more recycling and less energy waste in school, the RGS Wild group has been busy planting fruit trees on the school site as part of the Tree Council’s Orchards for Schools programme.

Mr Bruce, added:

"If you care about nature, you should care for hedges.

"They are fascinating but easily overlooked features of our countryside with a deep and complex history.

"Yet they could play a vital contemporary role in combatting climate change and countering the dramatic loss in biodiversity that characterised too much of the 20th century.

"We have lost up to half of our hedgerows since Second World War, largely due to changes in farming practice.

"Such habitat loss goes a long way to explain why 41 per cent of UK species studied by the RSPB have declined since recording began in 1970, with creatures like the hedgehog becoming an increasingly rare."

For more information on National Hedgerow Week, visit www.treecouncil.org.uk

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Ripon students to plant hedges in battle against climate change

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