This month, the Scottish Rainforest Education Centre and the Our Rainforest Futures (ORF) project partnered with the Woodland Trust on their tree planting event in Gleann Shìldeag. Reaching primary and high schools across Sheildaig, Applecross, Lochcarron, Plockton and Gairloch, over 100 schoolchildren got involved across three days, contributing to the restoration and expansion of Scotland’s rainforest.
At the beginning of each planting session, SREC’s Community Engagement Officer and ORF Project Manager gave a talk on Scotland’s temperate rainforest and the opportunities for young people in the rainforest sector. The fantastic Woodland Trust team then demonstrated how to plant these young trees – from digging holes, to positioning the young trees correctly, to adding fertiliser and patting down the soil – and we swiftly covered the designated planting area.
Our mission during these treeplanting days was to ask school children exactly what they might be interested in getting involved with in rainforest zones. It is essential to the SREC to build on community needs and interests as we deliver our outreach event. Using a pinecone ‘voting game’ we asked each group of school children what they would be most interested in. Art and Music workshops came out on top with a grand total of 53 votes, closely followed by Trips to Rainforest Zones with 40 votes and Plant & Species ID with 38 votes. This essential data will be used to inform SREC’s work going forward.
When we asked the school groups if they had heard of the Amazon rainforest, most of the children raised their hands. Yet, when asked if they had heard of the Scottish Rainforest, only one or two hands went up. There is a clear issue here: children in Scotland learn about rainforests on the other side of the world before they learn about the temperate rainforest in their local landscapes. Now, more than ever, we are determined to change that by raising awareness of Scotland’s own rainforest, ensuring that future generations appreciate, protect, and restore this precious ecosystem right on their doorstep.
Photo Credits: Caz Austen (WT) & Sophie Zych-Watson (SREC)