Kids given the earth

PUPILS planting the News of the World's Seeds for Schools have been given enough land to grow an entire FOREST.

Farmer David Partridge is so impressed with our plan to plant 1million trees across the UK he's given Downham Market High School FOUR ACRES to turn into a woodland wilderness.

"I've always loved trees," said David, 73. "The kids will be able to plant a few hundred trees on that patch, which should help get the ball rolling for the million!"

Together with the Forestry Commission we've sent tree seeds plus a specially-produced DVD to over 30,000 schools across the country. It was a mammoth delivery effort by Royal Mail.

It is part of our Go Green & Save campaign-and underpinning it all is a website www.seedsforschools.org that is one of the biggest online eco-resources ever given to British schools.

Since last autumn 12 students at the Norfolk school have been planting vegetables and plants on a quarter-acre patch of Mr Partridge's land, even turning up during holidays.

Will Cornwell, a 16-year-old pupil, said: "We really appreciate what Mr Partridge has done for us. When our seeds have grown into shoots we're looking forward to getting to work on the new plot."

Next year, a new batch of students will continue with the project, overseen by Will and his classmates.

Jo Robinson, who co-ordinates special learning schemes at the school, said: "It's a legacy for them to leave, and an ongoing project for future pupils to get behind."

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