Many hands make light work at NESCol Planting Days

April 19, 2022

North East Scotland College held three tree planting days at campuses in Aberdeen, Clinterty and Fraserburgh as part of the College’s Enhancing Green spaces initiative.

NESCol were awarded 135 saplings as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy scheme – “Plant a tree for the jubilee” and all were planted recently in a huge group effort involving students, staff, local schools and the wider community. The Queen’s Green Canopy scheme is to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.
The Enhancing Green spaces initiative is part of the Spotlight on Sustainability theme of the College’s Respect campaign.

NESCol Vice Principal Finance & Resources Pete Smith said: “We have all had a wonderful time planting the trees across the various College locations. At Fraserburgh staff and students were joined by over 50 pupils, teachers, parents and guardians from Lochpots and Westfield schools. Despite the cold there has been a lot of fun and huge satisfaction in planting trees for future generations.”

Construction, Rural Skills and Energy lecturer Pamella Tateson explains: “We planted all native trees which will provide a haven for wildlife and will I’m sure give people a lot of pleasure to look at and enjoy. Rowen will provide lovely red berries for the birds in winter and Hazel will fruit with hazelnuts. Birch has a beautiful white bark, Hawthorn has white flowers in spring and red berries and Dogwood has the red stems which stay bright through the winter.”

“Although just saplings at the moment they should have reached the top of the tree shelters in 2 years and have really established themselves in 5.”

NESCol is one of 1,050 universities and colleges from 68 countries to have pledged to half emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 as part of the The Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges. The initiative is led by EAUC (The Alliance for Sustainability Leadership in Education) and Second Nature with support from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

As one of the largest providers of vocational education and training in Scotland, NESCol puts sustainability at the heart of its curriculum and operations. This includes working closely with industry partners across the North East of Scotland to develop and deliver courses supporting a low carbon economy.

The College is a key player in a range of innovative projects with an environmental focus and is committed to playing a leading role in addressing climate change.

 Pictured pupils from Lochpots School – CJ Murdoch, Khiah Butcher, Leah Wilson with NESCol’s Pete Smith and Pam Tateson