Students Plant Fruit Trees at Trinity Green

Level 1 Pre-Internship students at Bradford College have been getting their hands dirty for a great cause, planting 8 fruit trees at the Trinity Green (TG) outdoor learning space. The fruit trees were donated by Fruitworks who help communities in Leeds and Bradford plant and maintain fruit trees.

The planting session formed part of the students’ learning programme, giving them the opportunity to work outdoors, develop teamwork skills and contribute positively to the environment. Despite the cold weather, students worked enthusiastically together to prepare the ground and plant the trees, which will provide fruit and support wildlife for years to come.

The tree planting session also links to SDG 15: Life on Land, one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. SDG 15 is all about looking after nature, protecting wildlife and making sure land and ecosystems can be enjoyed in the future. By planting fruit trees, students are helping to create habitats for birds and insects, improve soil health and make Trinity Green a better place for people and nature.

Chelsie Naylor, Sustainability Lead, highlighted the wider benefits of outdoor learning: “Outdoor learning is not just beneficial for engaging learners through practical experiences, but can also support wellbeing, creativity and social skills.
Spending time outdoors is great for everyone – not just our learners. Fresh air, natural light and movement in outdoor spaces supports mental and physical wellbeing and can help us to build a stronger connection to nature and the environment.
It’s great to see the outdoor learning space at TG being used and I hope more people will begin to make it their own.”

Jenna Gill , Lecturer. praised the students’ enthusiasm and teamwork during the activity, saying: “They all got stuck in and enjoyed it. They worked really well as a team and they’re proud of themselves.”

The students were equally positive about their experience.

Ben said: “I liked digging and using the spade and soil to plant them. We’re going to water them every week after Easter.”

Hannah added: “It was cold but we worked hard, got warm, and I feel strong now.”

Ethan explained why planting trees is important to him: “Planting trees is good because they give us clean air and grow food for us and animals. Birds can live in them and worms in the soil.”

Armaan also enjoyed the session, saying: “It went fast and it was a good experience because we learned new things.”

The fruit tree planting project is another example of how Bradford College is embedding sustainability, wellbeing and hands-on learning into the student experience, while helping to enhance green spaces for the future.