Schools to receive free tree seeds.

During the Spring, all primary and secondary schools in Britain will receive a pack of 200 tree seeds and a DVD courtesy of the Forestry Commission and the News of the World.

The Foresty Commission is working with the newspaper and other climate change experts throughout 2009 to try and save at least 500,000 tonnes of CO2.

This 'Seeds for Schools' scheme is a key part of this major green campaign and the seeds sent to your schools will be a mix of silver birch, alder and Scots pine.

The idea is for your pupils to plant and care for the seeds following instructions carried in the newspaper and ona specially created website so that, ultimately, many of those seeds will grow into small tree shots.

The plan is that, as a school project, children might approach local businesses that have an area of greenery, or organisations such as councils and local wildlife trusts, to take over care of the shoots, and nuture them into trees.

Allowing for the fact that some seeds will, inevitably, fail to flourish, the hope is that together by our efforts, we might plant a million new trees across the country. A great deal more information on this will accompany your seed packs in due course.