Manchester students excited to plant trees
MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Students at two schools in this south-central parish were excited to plant 10 seedlings on Friday as part of the National Tree Planting initiative.
The Jamaica Observer Junior Study Centre partnered with the Forestry Department to distribute and plant poui and bride of Barbados seedlings at the schools.
Jada Binns, 11, student at Yabnel Care Centre on Ward Avenue in Mandeville, told the Observer that she has always had an interest in protecting the environment.
“I feel great and happy about what we did, because I have always wanted to plant trees and we can serve to protect the environment. I have always wanted to do that since coming to Yabnel Care Centre,” she said.
Another student Kacey-Ann Shaw, 11, shared similar sentiments.
“I feel good that I planted a seedling that is going to be a tree,” she said.
Principal of Yabnel Care Centre Teisha Dowdie-Reynolds said the initiative is a learning experience for students.
“Trees are important to the environment, because without trees we wouldn’t be getting oxygen, so I believe this is an excellent initiative that we have planted these trees today and we are able to contribute to our environment in a positive way and to also train our students to understand the importance of caring for the environment,” she said.
Students at Snowdon Primary and Infant school in south Manchester were also excited to get their hands in the dirt to plant.
Students Tijuani Wright and Shanique Mullings, both 10, were among nine children at Snowdon Primary who planted seedlings.
“I love this activity as we plant trees to protect our environment,” said Wright.
“I was happy to plant a tree and will be able to watch it grow while at school,” said Mullings.
Principal of Snowdon Primary and Infant Denise Campbell-Brown said the school supports the national initiative of having three million trees planted.
“We are super excited that [our] school in south Manchester was selected as one of the schools for the National Tree Planting programme. We are happy that we are able to expose our children to caring for the environment by having them planting the trees themselves and being able to care for them and watch them grow,” she said.
— Kasey Williams
