Posted: March 25, 2022
DN Colleges Group’s Chief Executive, Mick Lochran has led the way by planting the first tree on North Lindsey College’s campus as part of a sustainability project to create a new woodland area on campus.
North Lindsey College, which is part of DN Colleges Group, with support from the Woodland Trust is paving the way to create a new woodland area, using 300 native trees provided by the Woodland Trust.
The woodland is part of the Sustainability group’s approach to work towards net-zero emissions and reduce the environmental impact through innovation and collaboration. 300 trees will be planted in total which include a variety of species including Silver Birch, Hawthorne, Blackthorn, Oak, Wild Cherry, Rowan and Dog Rose.
Mick planted an Oak tree to start the project off and said, “It’s great that the College can work in partnership with the Woodland Trust. These trees will be here for the next 70 years and it will be a wonderful to see them grow with the College.”
Mick was joined by a group of Children from the Kingsway Children’s Centre who all planted a sapling each that was delivered from the Woodland Trust. The excited children all had a name in mind for their trees with four year old Ethan planting the first tree from the group. Ethan had decided the name for his tree was going to be Bobby.
Karen Copperwheat (Kingsway Children’s Manager) said, “We are learning about life cycles so this is a great opportunity for the children to see how the different trees look as we watch them grow. We will be able to take regular walks to see their progress.”
A whole team of staff members have helped to plant the trees including staff member Carol Douglas–Hall who planted an Oak tree. Carol is one of the longest serving members of staff, having worked at North Lindsey College for 42 years. Carol said, “North Lindsey College has evolved over the years, it changes constantly and no two years are ever the same. I love the people I work with, they have become like family. I work here as I mean, where else would I work? I am still here because I love working here!”
The College’s Woodland Project will give students vital work experience opportunities in conservation and will help them gain the skills and knowledge in landscaping, gardening, planting trees, creating animal shelters, feeding stations, and building a woodland walkway.
Photograph 1: Mick Lochran, CEO DN Colleges Group planting the first tree with Karen Yull and Andy Kirk from the Estates team and Richard Lee (Estates Manager) assisting Mick with the Oak Tree.