Schools' Tree Planting Weeks 2025 - 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.
Week Three: Schools' Tree Planting Programme - The Finale!
As we stepped into Week 3, the final week of this year’s Schools’ Tree Planting Programme at Bury Hill Meadows, there was a real sense of achievement in the air.
By the end of Week 2, our young planters had already helped us add 1000 trees to the landscape! The site was beginning to noticeably transform: rows of young saplings taking shape across the meadow, each planted with care by small hands determined to make a big difference.
This momentum from the last couple of weeks carried us into our final week with energy, purpose, and deep pride in what the children of Andover had already accomplished.
But this programme is about so much more than the numbers, though they are impressive. Every session brings moments of connection, discovery and teamwork. Children learn how trees support ecosystems, how roots stabilise soil, how woodlands help combat climate change, and how nature restores wellbeing. They learn that they have the power to create something lasting. Each tree planted becomes a memory, a skill, and a seed of stewardship for the environment.
For many pupils, this programme is their first real hands-on experience of environmental action. For others, it’s become a highlight of their school year, a chance to build confidence, learn practical skills, and see their contribution immediately take shape in the landscape. And for the volunteers and partners who support us, it’s a reminder of the incredible things communities can achieve when they come together.
With the finish line in sight, Week 3 brought even more enthusiasm, resilience and joy. In total, we planted over 1500 trees! Take a read below of the final week and our total numbers across the last three weeks!
Here’s what we achieved in our final week:
Day 1 - The Mayor, The Reporter & Trees!
Year 4 pupils from Balksbury Juniors kicked off the week with brilliant focus and enthusiasm, planting 115 trees and capturing an estimated 1,265kg of CO₂ over their lifetime. Supported by Jane from Simplyhealth UK, the ATU Monday Team, and students from Harrow Way, the children planted with passion, teamwork and pride. In the afternoon, St John the Baptist CE Primary Year 4 added another 70 trees to the meadow, supported once again by Jane from Simplyhealth and Carol from ATU. The children were full of energy and kindness, showing what teamwork, curiosity and determination can achieve.
A special guest! We were honoured to be joined by The Worshipful Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Gordon Bailey MBE. It was the Mayor’s first ever visit to Bury Hill Meadows. He warmly welcomed the children, who were thrilled to meet him. He spent time speaking with pupils, celebrating their achievements, and was truly in awe of what has been created here.
We were also delighted to welcome Dan from the Andover Advertiser, who joined us to report on the Mayor’s visit - and even planted his first ever tree! Dan was beaming, knowing he had played a small but meaningful part in the woodland’s future. Monday totals:
185 trees planted
2,035kg CO₂ captured
Day 2 - Milder Weather & Big Digs!
Tuesday was slightly milder (thankfully!) but the ground was still tough and icy-cold. This meant extra effort and determination from the fantastic Year 4 pupils of Knights Enham Schools. Their resilience was incredible, and with Abbey on hand sharing her expert planting tips, everyone mastered the technique: dig out a full spade’s depth of earth, place the sapling carefully, firm the soil back, and finish with a ring of mulch to mark its new home. A big thanks to our volunteers Cecil from Anton Rotary Club, Doreen from Andover Trees United and members of the John Hanson Community School Bereavement Group. Tuesday totals:
33 new trees
That’s 330kg of CO₂ potentially absorbed over the trees’ lifetimes.
Day 3 - Another cold day on Bury Hill…
But absolutely full of smiles! The children’s eagerness to learn and excitement about what they’re doing for Andover shone through from start to finish.
On Wednesday morning we were joined by Knights Enham Infants (Year 2) who planted an incredible 75 trees! A huge thank you to Lloyds Banking Group and Stephen and Doreen from ATU for supporting them. In the afternoon, Wherwell Primary School, Year 4, joined us and planted 34 trees, adding 374kg CO₂ to the tally. Not only did they plant brilliantly, but they became our Mulching Heroes - mulching every single tree that was waiting once the delivery arrived. Absolute stars! Our thanks to Lloyds Banking Group, and to Geoff and Gary from The Anton Rotary Club along with Doreen from ATU, for their help and enthusiasm. Wednesday totals:
109 trees planted
1,199kg CO₂
Day 4 - Our Final Day!
On Thursday 27th November, we wrapped up our Schools’ Tree Planting Programme with a truly special session at Bury Hill Meadows, and what a way to finish! In the morning we had the wonderful pupils from Wolverdene. With steady teamwork, big enthusiasm and the support of their brilliant teachers, a team from Bluebird Care, and Liz and Elizabeth from ATU, the children planted 10 trees, capturing an estimated 110kg of CO₂ in their first year. A perfect final flourish to an incredible three weeks. After the last tree was planted, our amazing volunteer team pulled together one final time. A heartfelt thank you to Liz, Carol, Elizabeth, Doreen, Hebe, Sam, Simone and Brian for packing up the Land Rover, loading every last spade, stake and mulch bag, and returning all the kit to Harmony Woods.
This behind-the-scenes work is what makes this programme possible and we appreciate you more than words can say.
GRAND TOTALS FOR 2025
After three weeks of hard work, frosty mornings, muddy boots and hundreds of joyful young faces…
1,537 trees planted
16,907kg of CO₂ captured in their first year
That's the equivalent of:
Driving over 61,000 miles
Powering more than 150 homes for a month
A Final Thank You
To every school, teacher, volunteer, sponsor, parent, and young person who joined us, thank you. You’ve helped grow the future of Andover. You’ve helped restore biodiversity.
You’ve helped create spaces for nature, learning and community. And you’ve proven what can happen when a whole town comes together with heart and purpose.
Here’s to the trees we planted, the memories made, and the woodland that will grow because of you.
As always, thanks to Test Valley Borough Council and The Woodland Trust
See you next winter.
Week Two: Schools’ Tree Planting Programme - Weather, Willpower and 1,000 Trees
As we complete Week 2 of our Schools’ Tree Planting Programme at Bury Hill Meadows, it’s remarkable to look back at what has already been achieved.
In Week 1, hundreds of children from across Andover stepped onto the meadow for the first time this season. They navigated mud, cold, and the occasional burst of sunshine to plant the early foundations of this year’s community woodland. Their energy set the tone: purposeful, joyful, and rooted in the belief that every tree planted today will shape a greener, healthier Andover tomorrow. In total, they planted 494 trees!
Now, with Week 2 complete, our young planters have carried that momentum forward - through rain, wind, bitter cold, and frozen gloves - showing unwavering commitment to something bigger than themselves.
Together, across just two weeks, we have now planted 1,000 trees.
We are officially two-thirds of the way through this year’s school planting programme, with one important final week still to come.
And while these numbers are impressive, the true impact runs deeper. This programme is about environmental education, hands-on climate action, outdoor learning, teamwork, wellbeing, and giving children the confidence that they can shape the world they will inherit. It is one of the most significant educational and environmental initiatives in our area and every school, volunteer, family member and partner plays a vital role.
Here is what happened in Week 2.
Day 1 – A Strong Start to the Week
180 trees planted
1,980kg CO₂ absorbed
Those trees will absorb around 1,210kg of CO₂ in their first year which is the same as: Driving over 2,700 miles; Charging around 160,000 smartphones, and brewing more than 5,500 cups of coffee!
Anton Junior School (Year 3) and Clatford CofE Primary (Year 4) launched the week with energy and enthusiasm. Supported by Harrow Way students, Stannah employees, members of Anton Rotary and ATU volunteers, pupils planted 180 trees and learned about the long-term importance of woodland creation.
It was a day full of teamwork, discovery and pride.
Day 2 – Cold Weather, Big Determination
120 trees planted
1,320kg CO₂ absorbed
That’s the equivalent of driving an average gasoline car for approximately 4,888 km (around 3,037 miles)
Year 2 pupils from Balksbury Infant School and the eco team from Danebury School showed extraordinary resilience on one of the coldest mornings of the programme so far. Supported by Anton Rotary Club and ATU volunteers, they planted 120 trees! Serious proof that little hands can make a big environmental impact.
Day 3 – Wind, Laughter and Learning
70 trees planted
770kg CO₂ absorbed
That’s the same as driving 500 miles, making 1000 cups of tea or charging 29,000 smartphones!
Despite fierce winds, The incredible Abbotts Ann Primary’s Eco Team and pupils from Hurstbourne Tarrant (Years 1 & 2) planted 70 trees! They were supported by the lovely team from Simplyhealth and our amazing ATU volunteers and Rachel from Test Valley Borough Council. The sun was out and kept energy levels up. The day was a celebration of courage, outdoor learning, and the joy of discovering their own strength in nature. These are life lessons that stay with children long after the planting spade is put down.
Day 4 – A Beautiful Day of Community Planting
60 trees planted
660kg CO₂ absorbed
Planting 30 trees = 330kg CO₂ captured over their lifetime. that’s roughly equivalent to: one passenger flying from London to Edinburgh or driving about 820 miles in a typical petrol car
Vernham Dean Gillum’s CE Primary (whole school!) and Appleshaw Years 1 & 2 brought wonderful community spirit to the meadow. With family members, ATU volunteers and Newbury Building Society joining in, today’s planters added 60 more trees and many more smiles to the site. Moments like these show how deeply rooted this programme has become within our local community.
Day 5 – A Freezing but Fantastic Finish
80 trees planted
880kg CO₂ absorbed
That’s roughly equivalent to: driving 3,200 miles; powering a home for 2.5 months or one passenger on a flight from London to Athens, four times!
Kimpton Primary School Year 2 closed the week with grit, joy and determination, planting 80 trees despite the frost. Supported by Shenton volunteers and the ATU team, their effort brought Week 2 totals to a powerful close. Three cheers for the end of the week and everything that has been achieved, learnt and planted!
Week 2 Totals
Trees planted: 510
CO₂ absorbed: 5,610kg
Grand total so far: 1,000 trees across two weeks
💚 Why This Programme Matters
As we look ahead to our final week, it is worth remembering why this work is so important. This programme provides: climate education brought to life, meaningful hands-on environmental action, a sense of ownership and pride in our local landscape, improved wellbeing through time outdoors, community connection and collaboration and a living legacy that children can return to every season!
Each tree planted today will stand for decades - storing carbon, supporting wildlife, cooling our environment and representing the determination of a community that refuses to wait for change.
We are two-thirds of the way through, and the forest is already taking shape. Next week, we will complete this year’s planting season and we can’t wait to welcome the final schools, volunteers and families who will help bring this extraordinary effort to its finish.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey so far.
Here’s to Week 3 and to the growing woodland that Andover can be proud of.
Week One: Preparing, Planting & Powering On — A Brilliant Start at Bury Hill Meadows
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)
What a way to end Week 1 of our Schools Tree Planting Programme at Bury Hill Meadows!. On Friday, we had two brilliant planting sessions despite the weather trying its best to stop us! Our Morning Session welcomed Fox Class! Year 2 pupils from Normangate School. A huge thank you to the fantastic Child Development students from Andover College, and to Liam and Aaron from the Test Valley Borough Council Countryside Team, who supported the planting brilliantly through the pouring rain. In the afternoon we had the children from Year 2, Vigo Primary School join in on our last plant of the week. A massive thanks to Gary and Geoff from Rotary Andover UK, Rachel and Aaron from TVBC, and our wonderful ATU volunteers for keeping spirits high and supporting every child.
Carbon Impact: The pupils from Normangate planted 2 trees each, giving us 24 new trees in the ground. Those 24 trees will absorb 264kg of CO₂ in their first year, an amazing climate impact from such determined young planters. The pupils from Vigo planted 80 trees with huge enthusiasm and teamwork. Those trees will absorb around 880kg of CO₂ in their first year.
WEEK 1 TOTALS
Week 1 now stands at:
494 trees planted
5,434kg of CO₂ absorbed in the first year alone
That’s the equivalent of:
Over 12,000 miles of driving
Charging more than 700,000 smartphones
Brewing more than 25,000 cups of coffee
Absolutely incredible work from every school, volunteer, business and supporter who helped this week happen. As always, thank you to the Carbon Footprint Ltd and The Woodland Trust for the trees! Thank you all for the energy, the enthusiasm, the muddy boots, the laughs, the learning and the community spirit.
A Powerful First Week
Next week we welcome even more schools across Andover, plus further support from our volunteer teams and local businesses.
Let’s keep growing, learning and planting hope.
Happy trees, happy planet, happy people. 💚🌍