Royal Hospital School has announced that it will be planting a tree for every new pupil joining the school for the next seven years.
Launching at its Open Day this weekend, the tree planting is part of its new Grow with Us campaign, which also includes a range of initiatives aimed at sustainability and promoting well-being.
Scientists have stated that if 1 trillion trees are planted in the next few years, the amount of carbon in the atmosphere would be reduced by 25% – levels the world has not witnessed for at least a century. The school hopes its example will encourage other schools to do something similar.
This move follows on from the schools decision to stop purchasing single-use plastic bottles, with the school providing every pupil with a refillable, stainless steel water bottle. It has also replaced the use of non-biodegradable items at school events and this weekend will see everyone attending the Open Day receive a packet of butterfly and bee-friendly seeds.
Simon Lockyer, headmaster at RHS, said: “We are fortunate to live and work in a beautiful part of Suffolk and our pupils are constantly seeking and suggesting ways that will protect both the local ecosystems and global environment. They are environmentally conscious and recognise that through their collective individual actions they can make a difference.”