The trees were donated by Biffa, the UK’s leader in sustainable waste management, as part of its Biffa Bees campaign.

A team of volunteers from the school, and the waste and recycling company, rolled up their sleeves on April 3 for the special tree-planting day.

The orchard will help boost biodiversity and provide a green space for pupils to enjoy.

Biffa launched its Biffa Bees campaign in 2019 to help reverse a 97% decline in the UK’s wildflower habitats since the 1940s. 

The project with Biffa is now continuing with the support of Co-op’s Community & Member Participation Team. More trees are being donated to regions in Manchester, Staffordshire, Merseyside and West Yorkshire. And Biffa are also supplying wildflower seeds to 30 of our academies. 

This will support our Trust’s Community Team's aim to create more community spaces and wellbeing gardens across academies.

Liz Garrity, Head of Community at Co-op Academies Trust, said: 

“Our Trust’s Community Team recognises the important role that green spaces in our academies play. They support outdoor learning for our students and contribute to their physical and mental wellbeing.

“Parkland has a huge amount of green space and we’re really keen to encourage our students to take an interest in the natural world. We have an Eco Warriors Club who decided where they’d like the trees planted.

“Our hope is that over time the trees will grow, produce fruit and encourage biodiversity, especially bees. The orchard adds to our sensory garden which was created a few years ago and we hope to add a veg patch soon too.”

Emma Ainsworth, from Biffa’s IT team, and Chair of Governors at Co-op Academy Parkland, said: 

“When we’re not working with waste, we’re out and about in the community taking part in amazing projects like this. I can’t wait to see how the orchard grows and flourishes over the next few years, and all the amazing insects the trees will attract.

“It’s incredible to think that, each year, insects pollinate £690 million worth of crops across the UK. As a result, for one in every three mouthfuls of food we eat, we have these wonderful little pollinators to thank.

“However, a third of wild bee and hoverfly species in the UK are in decline with rarer species and solitary bees most at risk of extinction. This decline will only continue with increased use of pesticides and habitat loss.

“Through projects such as Biffa Bees, in both urban and rural locations, we can increase the survival chances for many species.

“As well as planting 14 trees, we’re providing six recycled plastic benches to the school and will be donating 60 reconditioned laptops to the trust later in the year.”