Tree for Cities is bringing the National Forest to Cardiff schools
We're transforming Cardiff school playgrounds through our Healthy Playgrounds programme, creating nature-rich learning environments for Cardiff’s children and expanding the National Forest for Wales; an exciting nationwide initiative to ensure trees are accessible to all, planted by communities, for communities.
Greening Cardiff Schools
We've been working with schools in Cardiff in partnership with Cardiff Council since 2020 and we're delighted to extend these projects to further benefit six Cardiff schools and their pupils this year. This work includes planting trees to provide shade and clean the air, and installing food growing areas where pupils learn how to grow and nurture organic fruit and vegetables.
Tiny Forests
Alongside edible gardens, natural play spaces and wildlife habitats, this year ‘Tiny Forests’ will be integrated into the re-design of each Healthy Playground; piloting the use of the Miyawaki method developed in Japan to create dense patches of urban forest habitat in shorter timeframes in schools. A project by Earth Watch Europe, each Tiny Forest consists of 600 trees, with the potential to attract over 500 wildlife and plant species within the first three years
We've received a grant of £240,000 from the Tiny Forests (Coetiroedd Bach) scheme, funded by the Welsh Government and hosted by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Beyond planting, this grant will enable engaging workshops to pupils to support their awareness of the importance of trees and their role in helping mitigate the climate crisis.
"We are thrilled to receive this support from the Coetiroedd Bach Grant. This funding allows us to expand our efforts in Cardiff, transforming school playgrounds into greener, healthier spaces. Every child deserves access to trees, and we look forward to working with more schools to foster closer connections to nature.
Kate Sheldon, CEO of Trees for Cities
Nature Connection
To date, our Healthy Playground school projects in Cardiff have highlighted ways in which a greener playground can help pupils feel good by connecting to nature. In a series of interviews with the pupils, they repeatedly shared feeling happy and safe in their renovated playground. School staff have echoed these sentiments, with one staff member sharing that they “absolutely love it” and feel “just as excited as the kids”.
The Healthy Playgrounds programme transforms school grounds into vibrant outdoor teaching gardens, have provided a calming environment where pupils can regulate negative emotions, with one pupil stating, “every time I’m frustrated, I can go to the Edible [Healthy] Playground”.
Enabling environmental education
The six Cardiff primary schools benefitting from new Healthy Playgrounds are Ysgol Y Wern, Greenway Primary, Ysgol Glan Ceubal, Springwood Primary, Pencaerau Primary, and Trelai Primary. Work has begun on implementing the playgrounds, planting with school pupils and educating them on each tree species and how they will develop over time. After instalment is complete, we will run workshops with the schools to give them the tools to best utilise and monitor their urban woodland until the end of 2025.
We're to bringing such valuable green space and knowledge to younger generations, cultivating lasting change and planting hope for decades to come.
Find out more about how our Edible Playgrounds can cultivate mental wellbeing and discover our Trees for Schools programme.
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