Bury St Edmunds Howard Community Academy plants healing wood

Work to create the woodland space at Howard Community Academy began in March 2022. 

On December 4, schoolchildren, volunteers and members of the community came together to plant 200 of the trees in the forest school area of the project, as well as eight oak trees in the centre of the woodland. 

The healing wood was designed and created in response to Suffolk County Council’s ambition to create these reflective spaces around the county.

Two children from Howard Community Academy planting trees, helped by [L-R] Cllr Philip Faircloth-Mutton (Cabinet Member for Environment, Communities and Equality at Suffolk County Council), Frank Carn-Pryor (Sports & Outdoor Activity Officer at Abbeycroft Leisure), Tim De Keyzer (SCC Head of Natural Environment at Suffolk County Council), Alison Weir (Headteacher at Howard Community Academy) and Jodie Budd (Bury St Edmunds Town Council Clerk) (Image: SCC) The wood is now open for the public to enjoy and is designed with wide open pathways, rides and glades, that lead to the heart of wood.

Councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for environment, communities and equality, said: "Trees and woods play a crucial role in our well-being, they provide us with a space to reconnect with nature and ourselves.

"We know just how much spending even just a short time outside in nature can positively impact our mental health and well-being and I’m delighted that the council has been able to support Howard Community Academy with planning and expertise – and a big thank you to the children, teaching staff, and all the partners involved for making this possible."

Trees planted in the wood include native Suffolk Eastern Claylands tree species, comprising of Hornbeam, Wild Cherry, Crab Apple, Birch and Oak.

There is also one very special tree in the woodland - a silver birch from the Tree of Trees, constructed in the Mall for Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

It is one of only four gifted to Suffolk as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy project.

Alison Weir, Headteacher at Howard Community Academy, Anglian Learning Trust, said: "The healing wood provides an excellent space for outdoor learning, where children can experience a wealth of nature on their doorstep in a safe, accessible hands-on way."

This latest phase of tree planting received additional funding from Bury St Edmunds Town Council, Suffolk Community Foundation and Nineveh Trust.

Also planted was a crocus bed, in partnership with Bury Rotary Club and their “End Polio Now” campaign.