Pupils at Pontnewydd Primary School have planted hundreds of trees to create a ‘tiny forest’ dedicated to their late headteacher Kerry Waters.
Mr Waters passed away in October 2024. During the first week of December every child from nursery to year six and their parents, carers and extended families planted trees.
School staff, players from Newport County FC and Dragon Rugby planted trees, along with school governors, businesses from the local community, including One2One estate agents, Caracaring Services and Anthony A Davies Limited.
Ann-Marie Maloney, acting head of Pontnewydd Primary said: “We are incredibly grateful to have received the funding to undertake such a worthwhile project that not only impacts our children now, but children in the future. This positive project has come at a time when our community has been rocked by such sadness. It has enabled us to draw together as a school and a community and it is a fitting memory to our beloved headteacher, Mr Kerry Waters.
Samantha Rowland, deputy head of Pontnewydd Primary and the lead for the Tiny Forest project said: “We are thrilled to have received this grant. Thanks to this support from the Welsh Government via the Coetiroedd Bach (Tiny Forests) scheme, we can now develop our plans to enhance our outdoor environment and contribute to creating a sustainable environment and vital conservation work.”
The new area with 600 trees in the school’s grounds is being built thanks to a £29,030 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
In the long-term, the project will build the skills of woodland volunteers and see pupils have more lessons in nature.