Tree-mendous effort from Fulham pupils at Lillie Road rec

A Fulham primary school is on a mission to improve its local green spaces and boost wildlife.

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Pictured are pupils and staff from Queen’s Manor Primary School at Lillie Road Recreation Ground, off Fulham Palace Road

A Fulham primary school is on a mission to improve its local green spaces and boost wildlife.

Pupils from Queen’s Manor Primary School have helped plant more than 100 trees at Lillie Road Recreation Ground, off Fulham Palace Road. And now, they’re planning to build their own pond and wildlife garden in the coming months.

See more pictures of the Lillie Road rec tree planting on our Flickr photo gallery

With saplings donated by the Woodland Trust and support from Hammersmith & Fulham Council, families from the school’s Friends of Queen’s Manor group (FoQM) have added 105 new trees to Lillie Road Rec.

Olessia Willybiro, chair of FoQM, carried out the planting with her daughter Adabella, aged nine, fellow parent Malgorzata Sobol, her partner Diego Garaboa, and their son Hasan, aged nine.

“We were inspired by the school students’ 2019 Global Climate Strike to find a practical project for Queen’s Manor pupils to learn how we can all help the environment,” explained Olessia.

“Now we intend to apply to the Woodland Trust for another batch of saplings to plant in the autumn when hopefully the children will be able to participate as well.”

FoQM applied to the Woodland Trust for the free tree pack containing a mixture of native saplings including hawthorn, dogwood, wild cherry, silver birches, rowan and hazel, as part of H&F Council’s ambitious drive to meet its 2030 carbon net-zero target after declaring a climate emergency in 2019.

Queen’s Manor headteacher Phoebe du Parcq said: “This was a brilliant initiative by FoQM and we look forward to the children being able to see the saplings grow and learn how they can contribute to battling the climate crisis.”

The school in Lysia Street is now planning its own environmental makeover in its grounds, just a stone’s throw from Fulham FC’s Craven Cottage ground and Bishop’s Park.

Plans for a pond and wildlife garden, developed with design input from the school’s pupils are under way, with fundraising for the project set to kick off soon.

Queen’s Manor wants to use the area for learning, linking to science, creative writing, art, and maths, as well as attracting wildlife in the form of plants and animals.

“We will also be asking the children to support us in the design of the wildlife garden, to ensure that the whole school community is involved,” Phoebe said.

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