Tree-mendous effort from staff and pupils at Smithton Primary as their planting exploits are helping reduce carbon emissions

Green fingered staff and pupils at Smithton Primary school have been supporting the Highland Council's efforts to cut carbon emissions by planting 51 trees after the school reopened following the COVID-19 lockdown.

During the course of the year several schools planted 172 trees in total, with each representing every Primary one pupil who started in 2019 in those schools: Croy, Ardersier, Balloch, Duncan Forbes in Culloden and Smithton.

Pupils and staff in Highland primary schools are very aware of climate change and are keen to get involved in projects which help reduce emissions.

Reducing carbon emissions can be done through offsetting, which can be achieved by exporting renewable energy and, for example, planting woodland.

This week is National Tree Week, which runs from November 28, 2020 until December 6, 2020.

Chair of Highland Council’s Climate Change Working Group, Cllr Trish Robertson, said: “As it’s National Tree Week we think it’s important to shine a light on how important trees are to our world, more now than ever before.

“Trees are amazing. When a tree breathes, it inhales carbon dioxide and exhales oxygen — the exact opposite of humans. And as a tree matures, it can consume 48 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year (among other greenhouse gases like ozone) and release enough oxygen for you to breathe for two years.”

She added: “Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen which helps limit global warming, providing for a cleaner, healthier climate. It is fantastic to see the staff at Smithton planting so many trees, which will help clean the air and fight climate change.”

Trees are important in helping to save energy by providing shade in urban environments, as they can lower temperatures in cities. And when shade is cast onto an office building or home, internal temperatures can drop between 8–10°F. Some estimates say the shade from a single tree can save the same amount of energy it takes to power 10 room-sized air conditioners for 20 hours a day.

And a tree's energy saving abilities don't stop during the winter. Trees provide important windbreaks around buildings to reduce heat loss by as much as 50%, lowering heating costs and energy consumption - and saving you money