Planting Fruit Trees With Kids In Wakefield For National Tree Week

It’s not every day you see a garden centre and a printing company team up, is it? But that’s exactly what happened recently in Wakefield. A group of local businesses decided to get their hands dirty for a brilliant cause, working with childcare providers to bring a bit more green into the lives of some very excited children. This wasn't just about digging holes and planting saplings; it was about learning, community, and the simple joy of watching something grow. The whole event was part of the celebrations for National Tree Week, and it shows how different companies can collaborate to make a real difference.

A partnership that bears fruit

So, who was involved? On one side, there's the Yorkshire Garden Centres group, a well-known Bradford-based garden centre group. If you've ever been to Tong, Tingley, Bingley, Otley, or the Pennine Garden Centres, you know who they are. They also own Dean’s York and Scarborough. Basically, these people know a thing or two about plants. On the other side, there's Oyster, their managed print supplier. Now, you might be thinking, "What does a printing company have to do with trees?" A managed print supplier is the kind of company that helps big offices with all their printing and copying needs. It seems like an odd pairing, but their partnership shows that any two businesses can collaborate when they have a shared goal.

Their mission was to help the Nurtured Childcare group of nurseries celebrate National Tree Week in a memorable way. Instead of just talking about trees, they wanted to give the children a hands-on experience. This partnership is a fantastic example of businesses looking beyond their day-to-day work to support their local communities. They came together to provide everything needed to get the project off the ground, proving that a good idea can bring anyone together.

Getting hands dirty in Wakefield

On the 25th of November, the plan swung into action. Phil Birkhead, who is the northern director for Oyster, went along to the Nurtured Childcare Wakefield nursery to join in the fun. The day was all about planting fruit trees. This wasn’t a small gesture; together, the businesses made a significant donation. They supplied a grand total of 24 fruit trees, along with all the necessary planters and compost, completely free of charge. This donation meant the childcare providers had everything they needed for the planting ceremony.

Steph Harrison, the group people and culture manager for Yorkshire Garden Centres, explained the thinking behind the project. She said:

“We’re delighted to partner with Oyster to celebrate National Tree Week while supporting children in their early education around sustainability. Our team matched Oyster's donation, and together we supplied 24 fruit trees, planters and compost free of charge to help children connect with where their food comes from. This is a great example of businesses coming together to make tangible differences in our local communities.”

It’s all about helping kids understand that apples and pears don’t just magically appear in the supermarket. That kind of learning is priceless.

More than just planting a tree

This event was about much more than just the physical act of planting a tree. It was a huge outdoor learning opportunity. The Nurtured Childcare group is known for encouraging children to get stuck in with nature and embrace outdoor play, so this project was a perfect fit. Phil Birkhead from Oyster pointed this out, saying:

“We’re proud to work with the team at Yorkshire Garden Centres to deliver this initiative. Nurtured Childcare is a group of nurseries that encourage children to engage with nature through learning and outdoor play. The tree ceremonies included a talk about the importance of trees before the children helped to plant the trees.”

Imagine a group of little ones gathered around, listening to a talk about how important a single tree is. They would have learned how trees give us air to breathe, provide homes for birds and insects, and, in this case, grow delicious food. This kind of learning sticks with you. And leading the charge was the nursery's Forest School lead, Carina Culliney. A Forest School is all about letting children learn and explore in a natural setting. The excitement was obvious.

Carina said:

“The children were extremely excited about the tree ceremonies and to learn about trees. We’re incredibly grateful to Yorkshire Garden Centres and Oyster for helping to bring the children’s learning to life.”

These celebrations weren’t just fun; they were a living lesson.

What is National Tree Week anyway?

You might be hearing all this and wondering what National Tree Week is all about. Well, it’s a pretty big deal. It's the UK’s largest yearly tree celebration, organised by a charity called The Tree Council. It marks the beginning of the tree-planting season, which runs from November to March. It’s the perfect time to plant a tree because they are dormant, a bit like they’re asleep for the winter, which makes it easier for them to get settled in their new home without getting stressed.

National Tree Week 2025 finishes on the 30th of November, 2025. The whole week is about encouraging everyone, from individuals and schools to businesses and childcare providers, to get involved in planting trees and celebrating the ones we already have. The project in Wakefield involving Yorkshire Garden Centres, a major garden centre group, and Oyster, a managed print supplier, is a brilliant example of how local communities can get involved. These businesses didn't just make a donation; they created an experience that will hopefully inspire the next generation to care about their environment. And who knows, in a few years, the children at the Nurtured Childcare group will be picking their own fruit from the very fruit trees they helped to plant.