At St David’s, we are getting our hands dirty to make a lasting impact on the College environment.
Students and staff from the Environmental Society have planted a small orchard of fruit trees and wildlife-friendly shrubs on the grounds, as part of the College’s ongoing sustainability initiatives.
The trees and shrubs were kindly provided by Coed Caerdydd, part of Cardiff Council’s long-term effort to increase tree coverage across the city and support its One Planet climate strategy.
The orchard, carefully planned and selected by students, includes a variety of edible apple, pear, plum and cherry trees. All species are native to Wales and were grown locally, either at the Coed Caerdydd nursery at Forest Farm or by a grower in Eryri National Park.
During the planting day, students and staff learned how to plant and care for trees to give them the best chance to thrive.
Once established, the orchard will support biodiversity on campus, providing food and shelter for wildlife, while also offering a sustainable source of free fruit for staff and students.
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The orchard forms part of the College’s wider Green Flag Eco-School ambitions. The Environmental Society has already led a range of student environmental projects, including plant sales, litter picks, biodiversity surveys, participation in the Big Garden Birdwatch, and the creation of insect habitats.
The group has also worked with College staff to reduce single-use plastics and encourage the use of refillable cups and bottles, further strengthening the College’s sustainability initiatives.
Biology teacher Mrs Bird said:
“This orchard will be a lasting legacy created by students and staff who are passionate about improving the environment here at the College and beyond. We hope it will be the first step toward a permanent environmental garden on site.”
Students interested in joining the St David’s Environmental Society and taking part in future student environmental projects can find out more via the College Teams page.