21 Apr 2025
Tree saplings and strawberry plants have been donated to 16 schools across the district as part of an initiative to enable biodiversity to flourish in school grounds.
This year’s 20 saplings all stem from the same mother trees growing apples or pears at Grow Fruit Trees’ nursery in Kent, and were planted alongside 120 strawberry plants.
They were donated as part of the Veolia Orchard initiative, which now stands at over 1,500 apple and pear trees and 1,900 strawberry plants nationwide, with each of the 500 schools joining an environmental network which encourages sustainable practices and outdoor learning.
Participating schools included Cunningham Hill Infants, Wheatfields Junior, St Alban and St Stephen Catholic School, St Michael’s CofE School, Prae Wood Primary, Fleetville Junior, Grove Junior, Alban City, Beech Hyde, Wheatfields, Maple Primary, Beaumont, Bernards Heath Infants, Cunningham Hill Junior, Mandeville Primary and Nicholas Breakspear.
Municipal managing director at Veolia Pascal Hauret said: “We’re very pleased to bring positive change to the local community in St Albans through our Veolia Orchard project, which reached more schools than ever this year. This initiative exemplifies Veolia’s dedication to building a greener, more sustainable future across the country by increasing biodiversity and inspiring positive environmental practices in young people.’’
