Tree-planting project by Wick pupils will 'give wildlife a helping hand'
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Hundreds of trees have been planted alongside Wick River in a project involving groups of local schoolchildren.
Wick High's youth work team, Step Forward Wick Youth, planted 300 trees on the south side of the river behind the rifle range.
In a further session the following week, pupils from Noss Primary School's P5 eco-committee planted 25 trees on the north side of the river near the Coghill footbridge.
The project is a collaboration between Wick Development Trust, the countryside ranger service and community groups to undertake a series of biodiversity improvements around the riverside area.
High Life Highland countryside ranger Roz Summers said: “A variety of native trees such as willow, rowan, hawthorn, hazel and alder were planted, all of them chosen for their benefits to wildlife.
"There are only a few green spaces in Wick and even fewer accessible woodland areas, making Wick riverside a significant asset to the community in terms of access and connection to nature.
"It is also an area of rich biodiversity, and this project is going to give wildlife a helping hand by providing more shelter and food sources."
Sean Redmond, a second-year pupil from Step Forward Wick, said: “We had a great day planting trees and learning all the steps to plant a tree properly. It’s going to be cool to come back and see how they are getting on and how much they’ve grown."
Sarah Lamb, Wick Development Trust project officer, said: “It has been such a feelgood project to work on with the ranger service and local schools.
"Everyone got stuck in and enjoyed being outside working as a team. There was even a little disappointment when we ran out of trees – they wanted to keep going.
"Three hundred trees planted is an impressive total for one day, though, so a big thank-you to everyone involved. And we must not forget to thank the Highland Nature Restoration Fund administered by the Highland Council for funding the project."
