Children from Henry Bloom Noble School, in Douglas, visited the Children’s Wood within the Conrhenny community woodland in Lonan.

The event took place on Wednesday last week. The children were taking part in the 2018 Trees for Life event organised by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA)

The project, now in its 10th year, encourages primary school pupils to learn more about trees and their importance to the global environment, before going on to plant one of their own in the expanding community wood.

Each pupil receives a sapling and an activity book that explains five species of deciduous trees native to the island - oak, aspen, rowan, alder and birch - as well as their Manx names, how to identify them, and the all-important guide to preparing the ground and planting a tree.

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot MHK said: ’Now in its 10th year, Trees for Life continues to be a tremendous success which has seen the development of a unique community woodland, largely planted by pupils.

Pupils from years one and three (ages five to eight) were assisted with planting more than 90 trees by the forestry team.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen MHK was on site to help mark the milestone of the 5,000th tree being planted.

He said: ’The children have had a fantastic time planting their trees, all making sure they write their names on the protective sleeves in permanent marker in the hope they can find their tree in years to come.

’It’s a great initiative and a fantastic legacy that thousands of pupils have had a hand in creating.’

Oliver Drugan, age seven, said: ’It’s very good that I am taking part in the Trees for Life project, but I would like to know how diseases spread from one tree to another.’