All 151 primary schools of Glasgow will help rewild a 13-hectare site on the run up to the UN Climate Summit. The children of Glasgow will transform this site into a Glasgow Children's Woodland with oak trees that they have grown from seed - proving no-one is too small to make a difference.

The Lost Woods' /Glasgow Children's Woodland – a fantastic volunteer-led initiative is empowering Glasgow schools to use their voice ahead of COP26 and inspire world leaders to take action now for young people everywhere!
In partnership with Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability at Glasgow City Council, Green Action Trust, Trees for Cities, Scottish Forestry, ScottishPower and The Conservation Volunteers a total of 17k new trees will be planted on this 13ha site that overlooks the city of Glasgow, giving the next generation a voice, calling for change at COP26 and leaving a lasting legacy for today’s and future generations to enjoy.

Eddie Murray from Glasgow Gaelic School said – “The thing I’m most looking forward to is that all the children of Glasgow are going to make a magnificent green space for future Generations and when we have children, we can tell them… we did that. Plus, going outdoors and planting trees is fun.”

Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform, Màiri McAllan said: “Climate change and nature loss are the greatest long-term, global threats we face. By expanding our forests and woodlands we can help to reverse these threats and create a cleaner and healthier nation. “Young people are our future and it’s so important to involve them in this crucial movement at an early age. This project is simply brilliant and a fantastic way to get children involved and make their voices heard ahead of COP26.”

Set-up in December 2019, The Lost Woods project had the ambitious plan of reaching out to all the Glasgow primary schools to help children feel more connected to nature. In March 2020, before lockdown, they delivered tree seed packs to primary schools across Glasgow, to enable children to grow oak trees from acorns, bringing climate optimism and learning to life. The project has now secured a 13-hectare site on the southside of the city which will be named the Glasgow Children's Woodland and will involve all the primary schools planting their trees this October.

This site will act as the legacy woodland for the UN Climate Summit which will be hosted in Glasgow in November. The Lost Woods hopes to create a wonderful learning experience for all the Glasgow children and develop a woodland that will benefit both the community and environment.

Councillor Philip Braat, the Lord Provost of Glasgow said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for every Glasgow primary school to plant a legacy in the name of COP26 and to help towards changing the tide on the climate emergency we are all facing and something we all need to tackle to make the planet better for all generations.”

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive, ScottishPower said: "Over the last few years we have been hugely inspired by the positive action young people have taken across the country to combat climate change. ScottishPower is supporting The Lost Woods project to give young people in Glasgow the opportunity to create the city's largest woodland creation for 40 years, ahead of the UN COP26 climate change conference, as we all pull together to accelerate the march to net zero."

Over four days in October (4th – 7th), 1,200 primary school children will come together as representatives of all communities across Glasgow, to use their voice and inspire and enable individuals, communities and world leaders to take action now! Through this project, each community will be represented through their local primary schools who are planting 13 hectares of saplings on the outskirts of the city, as the legacy to COP26. This project is the first woodland of its size to be planted in Glasgow for generations and part of a wider woodland ambition known as the Cart & Kittoch. This new native woodland also aims to contribute towards the Central Scotland Green Network vision of enriching the environment of central Scotland, benefiting local communities and wildlife, and helping to mitigate against climate change.

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, Glasgow City Council, said: “We are delighted to partner with the Lost Woods for Phase 2 of our Community Woodlands Project. As we look to meet our objectives of our Glasgow Climate Plan exciting projects such as this, with children at the centre, will ensure we continue to improve our environment while providing opportunities for our communities to actively participate in climate related activities.”

Douglas Worrall, Director of Service Delivery, Green Action Trust said: “We are thrilled to be involved in this partnership project which will engage all Glasgow primary schools in creating one of the most significant new woodlands in the city. The trees the children plant will help to create new woodland which will connect with other woodlands around the south of the city, delivering benefits for people, wildlife and the climate. This is a great example of what cities can do and is an excellent example of young people taking action to protect their future and the future of the planet.”

This project will not only sequester nearly 6,000 tons of CO2 over its lifetime but will encourage the planting and protection of more trees in our towns and cities and enable and unite a new generation of young people to value urban nature and green spaces both here in the UK and around the world.

As well as engaging schools in Glasgow, this project also reaches schools worldwide, including Kenya and Rwanda. Together with environmental charity Trees for Cities and 'The Lost Woods', this project will aim to voice and share their concerns, hopes and ambitions for the future of our planet ahead of COP26.

David Elliott, Chief Executive of Trees for Cities, said: "We are incredibly proud to be supporting The Lost Woods and the creation of the Glasgow Children's Woodland ahead of COP26. This fantastic project will see 151 schools in Glasgow plant over 17,000 trees across October, sending a powerful message to world leaders to listen and take action for young people everywhere. This project aligns with our Generation Tree strategy, which is all about getting young people outside, connecting with nature and understanding all the multiple benefits this nature has on their lives. We wish them all the best of luck!”

As part of the project's ongoing legacy, The Lost Woods project seek to forge new international relationships with children and teachers around the world, using the power of education and shared goals that unite us all and do not know borders or boundaries.

Alex Mackenzie, Project Co-ordinator of THE LOST WOODS said: “The creation of the Glasgow Children’s Woodland has been a community effort from across the world. We all shared in the vision that we wanted children to feel connected to nature and show in a tangible and simple way that they can transform their environment for the better … even from a single acorn! Only together can we create a greener, healthier and happier world and the Glasgow children are proving that no-one is too small to make a difference.”

ENDS
Notes to Editors
Photo/Press Call
Photocall to break ground and plant trees with key stakeholders and school children to mark the commencement of tree planting for COP26 The Lost Woods Project.
Thursday 30th September 3.30pm at Glasgow Children’s Woodland site –
MSP Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Máiri McAllan, Glasgow Lord Provost Philip Braat, Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, Glasgow City Council will meet local school children, The Lost Woods team and Rowanbank Arts performers in costumes.
Meeting at Entrance adjacent to the roundabout at Ardencraig Rd / Birgidale Rd – Google Weblink and what3words : ///happy.skin.drums
Photos will be available via Alan Peebles/Scottish Forestry after the event.

About The Lost Woods
The Lost woods is a project designed to inspire, educate and empower children about their environment. Our aim is to connect children to nature through the simple act of growing their own tree from seed and helping them re-wild their communities. We want to fire up children’s imaginations about nature and grow their confidence that no one is too small to make a difference. Bringing climate optimism and learning to life. We hope to create beautiful green spaces for all to enjoy and create a wonderful legacy to the UN Climate Summit in November. All the 151 Glasgow primary schools are engaged with the project including the 11 Additional Support & Learning schools and the Glasgow Home Education Network.
Contact: Alex Mackenzie, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mobile: 07704410731
www.thelostwoods.earth @The_Lost_Woods_ /fromlittleacornsgrow/

Scottish Forestry
Scottish Forestry is the Scottish Government agency responsible for forest policy, support and regulations. Through the Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme, £125K was awarded to support the planting at the Carth and Kittoch site, which includes the Lost Woods project. Scottish Forestry’s local team has also provided £5k through their Community Fund to Lost Woods so that they can commission Rowanbank environmental arts and education to deliver interactive workshops to the 1,500 children and teachers who will be planting trees from 4th-7th Oct.
Contact: Steve Williams, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
https://forestry.gov.scot/ @scotforestry

Glasgow City Council
The site is owned by Glasgow City Council and forms part of Phase 2 of the Cart & Kittoch Community Woodland spanning 45ha of land to help create an integrated woodland habitat that stretches around the southern edge of the city from Linn Park all the way to Cathkin Braes Country Park. This new native woodland also aims to contribute towards the Central Scotland Green Network vision of enriching the environment of central Scotland, benefiting local communities and wildlife, and helping to mitigate against climate change. This site has particular significance given its proximity to the Cart & Kittoch SSSi, designated for it’s woodland cover and its potential contribution to the Clyde Climate Forest project which is now underway. Furthermore, a woodland of this type has not been developed to this scale in the last 40 years in Glasgow.

Green Action Trust
Green Action Trust are the managing agents for the site, with responsibility for delivering the wider woodland creation ambition.

ScottishPower
ScottishPower, COP26 Principal Partner, is providing the transport to all the 151 Glasgow primary school to allow each school the means to participate at this 4 day school planting event. ScottishPower staff are also volunteering during the event.

About Trees for Cities
Trees for Cities is the only UK charity working at a national and international scale to improve lives by planting trees in cities. We get stuck in with local communities to cultivate lasting change in their neighbourhoods – whether it’s revitalising forgotten spaces, creating healthier environments or getting people excited about growing, foraging and eating healthy food.
Contact: Chris Owens, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
treesforcities.org @treesforcites This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Rowanbank Arts & Education
Rowanbank Arts & Education will perform part of their Positive Imaginings show with Oi Musica during the 4 day event. Positive Imaginings is an exciting and ground-breaking outdoor show, co-created by professional theatre makers, environmental educators and children to address the climate emergency for a young audience in an informative, meaningful, and positive way. Positive Imaginings will use circus and theatre to connect children with the natural world; to spark joy, a sense of magic and wonder; to empower and give a voice to children from areas of multiple deprivation in Scotland.