Children from three primary schools came together to help plant a greener future for their local community when they visited one of Dorset’s newest solar farms.
Pupils from Wool Primary, St Mary and St Joseph School in Wool and Bovington Primary were invited by Good Energy to help plant trees at Woolbridge Solar Farm, which began generating electricity last year.
The pupils joined forces with the energy company to help dig the foundations that will eventually see 540 new trees planted on the site near Wool.
The trees, along with 7,000 new hedgerow plants, are being introduced to further enhance the existing mature planting.
Good Energy is planting a variety of native species including English oak, crab apple, field maple and hazel, which help to enhance the biodiversity.
Hugo House, Good Energy senior project developer, said: “It was great to see children from the three local schools coming along to help us begin planting new trees at Woolbridge Solar Farm.
“Our vision is that one day all our energy needs will be supplied by natural renewable resources like sunshine, so the children of today can enjoy a greener and cleaner tomorrow.
“We‘re keen to involve local schools in our work here at Wool so that the younger generations can discover at first hand, the benefits of renewable energy and the difference it can make to them in the future.”
As well as planting new trees and hedgerow at the site Good Energy is also installing bird and bat boxes, a wildlife shelter for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates and is growing a new grassland and wildflower meadow.
The 18,500 solar panels on the 34-acre site are capable of generating over 5,500 MWh of electricity every year – that’s enough power for around 1,500 average homes.
Helen Brown, head teacher at St Mary and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Wool, said: “The tree planting ceremony is something the children will remember for a very long time. As well as being amazing and fun, it was also a learning experience for them.
“It was important as they are our future energy consumers, and their views and actions will help shape the world they live in.
“Good Energy kindly gave us solar panels for the roof of our school in the summer and we are delighted that this special relationship has continued with the tree planting.”
As well as providing roof solar panels for all three schools, Good Energy is also giving an annual £5,000 community fund to the local parishes for the 30 year lifetime of the scheme.
Local groups and charities can now apply for a share in the first instalment of this funding by emailing the East Stoke and Wool Community Chest at [email protected].
