Help us plant 1million trees!

THE News of the World is joining with the Forestry Commission and every school in the country to plant a MILLION TREES.

It is the biggest, most ambitious green project ever undertaken by a national newspaper-and we need YOUR help.

We want every reader with children to encourage them to take part.

Soccer ace John Terry has already thrown his weight behind our campaign. The England and Chelsea star- dad to 21-month-old twins Georgie John and Summer Rose-said: "I want the best possible world for my children.

"I'll sow some seeds, and when they turn into seedlings I'll plant one each for my children so they can grow together."

Schools Secretary Ed Balls is supporting our campaign and has written to every school in the country urging them to take part.

Register your interest by sending an email to seedsforschools@notw.co.uk

Growing trees is one of the most cost- effective ways of improving the environment. Already the News of the World is taking the lead when it comes to trees-85 per cent of the paper we use is recycled, and the rest is from sustainable woodland.

Seeds For Schools is part of our wideranging Go Green & Save initiative- and this is how it will work.

Right now the Forestry Commission, which is responsible for the protection and expansion of Britain's forests and woodlands, is amassing a gigantic collection of seeds from native British trees.

There'll be around TEN MILLION seeds-Scots pine, alder and silver birch.

In April, every primary and secondary school in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will get a pack of more than 200 seeds, plus a DVD on forests and climate change specially produced by the Forestry Commission.

Love & care

We hope that this will become an integral part of schools' study materials.

Pupils can plant the seeds into pots and, with a bit of love and care, many will grow into tree shoots (called seedlings) of up to 6ins by the end of the year. Of course, some will fail but millions should germinate and grow.

By early January we hope schools can take their shoots into their communities and persuade parks, businesses, councils, superstores-anyone with some green space-to accept some shoots and take over their care as they grow.

Britain was once covered with woodland-but over centuries most has been cut down. Today it is just 8 per cent of England's area. It's one of the lowest in Europe, where the average is a quarter of land covered in trees.



On the right is a map of how towns and cities have taken over here. We're hoping our packs of seeds will turn into the re-greening of Britain.

Our aim is one million trees, but if the seeds are looked after properly, 50 to 80 per cent should grow. So we could be looking at up to FIVE MILLION trees!

That's equal to a forest of 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres)-more than 3,300 football pitches.

BBC2 Dragons' Den entrepreneur Peter Jones has given his backing. He said: "This not only engages children but draws in businesses. I'm offering a corner of my land to local kids when their seeds turn into shoots, and I hope other business people around the country will join me in supporting the project."

Forestry Commission director general Tim Rollinson said: "I hope children around the UK will join us, and see the seeds of their efforts grow into something to benefit their community."

Going green is a great way to save money. Last week we revealed there is £5billion up for grabs in home energy saving grants. Get details by phoning the Enegry Saving Trust during office hours Monday to Friday on 0800 512012.

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