A project to plant a tree for every child in Helston has got underway at the town's secondary school.

In a fitting launch event, Helston Community College became the first venue for trees to go into the ground as part of the Forest for Helston scheme, during National Tree Week.

Four crab apple (or Malus) trees were donated by Helston Town Council, as part of its work with Helston Climate Action Group.

The tree planting ceremony was attended by students of the college and staff, members of the town council and members of the action group.

The four trees will produce food for birds in autumn and into winter, as well as nectar for bees with their spring blossom.

Falmouth Packet:

Members of Helston Climate Action Group with staff and students from the college

Katharine Lewis, Helston Climate Action Group secretary, said: "They symbolise the beginning of more planting on the college site.

"As the old building is removed, the college will make space for nature in the new grounds, which is fundamental to students’ well-being."

The college has already pledged its support by signing up for the Green Charter and declaring climate emergency, with an eco-committee of students currently working on three of the Eco-Schools Ten Topics: waste, energy and school grounds.

The eco-committee is carrying out a review of the college, linked to each of these three topics, and will then suggest action points for the college.

One of the points raised has been to improve the school grounds for students and for nature.

The Forest for Helston project is being led by Helston Climate Action Group and is just one from a number in its action plan to help the town become carbon neutral by 2030.

It complements Cornwall Council’s intention to create a Forest for Cornwall.

Anyone in the community who would like to make a further contribution can visit The Woodland Trust’s Big Climate Fightback website and pledge to plant a tree themselves.

Helston Climate Action Group would like to hear from anyone who does so, by emailing the volunteers via forestforhelston@gmail.com so they can put your tree on a map of the town.

They are also looking for anyone with large areas of land for the woodland, and people with smaller patches or who have planted trees in their gardens.