One tree for every school aged child will be planted, to create new woodlands within our country parks as well as at other greenspace sites in Calderbank and Low Wood, Cumbernauld.

This week Council Leader Jim Logue, who proposed the project, and Councillor Michael McPake, Convener of the Environment and Transportation Committee, joined P7 pupils from St Aidan’s Primary School in Wishaw to help with the planting.

This is one of the activities pupils take part in during a week of outdoor activities during their last year at primary school.

“Since the council declared a climate emergency in 2019, we have been identifying ways to reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment, and the tree planting project is an important part of our work,” said Councillor Logue.

“Creating woodlands with their own ecosystems will provide wider biodiversity benefits for woodland species and become part of a habitat network, allowing wildlife to move through the area, which is increasingly important in addressing climate change.”

A total of 40,000 native trees at the sites across North Lanarkshire including Downy birch, Sessile oak, Common alder, Rowan, Gean, Hazel and Hawthorn.

Avenues of trees will also be created at Drumpellier and Palacerigg Country Parks, as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

At Palacerigg, the trees will be planted along a new footpath at the front of the park, while at Drumpellier, the trees will be planted at Drumpellier Avenue, off Blair Road.