Week One: Preparing, Planting & Powering On — A Brilliant Start at Bury Hill Meadows

This week we launched our annual Schools’ Tree Planting Programme at Bury Hill Meadows, the next chapter in Andover’s growing community woodland. Despite some wild weather at times, the energy, teamwork and enthusiasm across the week have been absolutely inspiring. Here’s a look back at everything we achieved together.

Day 1 - Setting Up & Preparing the Site

Monday was all about preparation and our team rose to the challenge. With rain pouring down, volunteers and students from Harrow Way Community School worked tirelessly to get the site ready for the days ahead.

Together they unloaded the Land Rover, set up gazebos, marked planting zones, sorted gloves, mulched paths, prepared tools, and even set up the all-important tea station. It was a huge effort carried out with determination, teamwork and good humour — the perfect foundation for the week to come.

A huge thank you to Doreen, Hebe, Simone, Sam, Liz, Annette, Liang, Annabel, Henry, and the brilliant staff and students from Harrow Way for giving the programme such a strong start.

Day 2 - Endeavour King (Year 4)

Morning and afternoon sessions saw Year 4 pupils planting 110 trees, supported by ATU volunteers, members of Andover Rotary Club and staff from Simplyhealth.

Carbon impact: Those 110 trees will absorb around 1,210kg of CO₂ in their first year, real climate action rooted in the hands of young people.

Day 3 - Endeavour Kirk (Year 2)

Year 2 pupils planted 100 trees across two sessions, working with our volunteers and Simplyhealth.

Carbon impact: That’s a further 1,100kg of CO₂ absorbed in year one, the equivalent of charging around 140,000 smartphones or driving more than 2,500 miles.

Day 4 - Portway Juniors (Year 6)

Our biggest planting day yet! Year 6 pupils from Portway planted an amazing 180 trees, supported by the wonderful Hildon team, Gemma & Aaron from TVBC Countryside Team, and our excellent ATU volunteers including James, currently completing work experience with us through Sparsholt College.

Carbon impact: Those 180 trees will absorb around 1,980kg of CO₂ in the first year, the highest total this week.

Friday (Day 5)

Heavy rainfall made planting unsafe today, so the session was postponed.

A Powerful First Week

Across just four days of planting, local pupils, teachers, businesses and volunteers have worked together to plant 390 trees, capturing over 4 tonnes of CO₂ in their first year alone, with their impact increasing dramatically as they grow into mature woodland.

More than that, this week has been filled with muddy boots, teamwork, laughter, learning, newfound confidence and a deep sense of community.

Next week we welcome even more schools across Andover, plus further support from our volunteer teams and local businesses.

Thank you to everyone who made Week 1 such a success.

Let’s keep growing, learning and planting hope.

Happy trees, happy planet, happy people. 💚🌍