Planting day at Ponteland Community Primary School

March 2023

Ponteland Community Primary School was visited by representatives of Alcon to help plant trees in the school grounds. Pupils, staff and representatives of Alcon planted the saplings to create wildlife habitats and encourage biodiversity.

“I'm an eye surgeon at The Royal Victoria Infirmary. This is a fantastic project which we have run together in partnership with the hospital and Alcon about carbon neutral cataract surgery. In the past year we have performed over 8000 procedures, completely carbon neutral. We are here today with my colleagues from Alcon and our first carbon neutral patient to plant trees at the school.”
- Sandro Di Simplicio, eye surgeon, Royal Victoria Infirmary

The trees are all native British species, grown in the UK and include Alder, Bird Cherry, Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Dog Rose, Downy Birch, Elder, Gorse, Green Beech, Hazel, Oak, Silver Birch and Whitebeam.

“I was the first person to have carbon neutral cataract surgery. We are here today planting trees as part of the scheme that supports the community.”
- Nora

These new saplings will provide a perfect habitat for wildlife, promoting biodiversity and preserving the natural environment. The children will gain hands-on experience of how trees are planted and will learn how important trees are to the world in which we live. Alcon has teamed up with Carbon Footprint as part of their carbon management programme and with Tree Appeal, planting native broadleaf trees in schools.

“Today we are at Ponteland Community Primary School with the first carbon neutral surgeon, Sandro Di Simplicio and Nora, the first patient to receive carbon neutral cataract surgery, to support this tree planting which is very close to the site where we are working on the programme.”
- Arrianne McCalla, Alcon Eyecare

Alcon is sponsoring the planting of more than 250 trees at Ponteland, demonstrating their commitment to environmental education and their aim of reducing their impact on the natural world. Carbon Footprint help hundreds of companies develop robust carbon and sustainability programmes. Tree Appeal organises the planting of native broadleaved trees on behalf of environmentally responsible companies across the UK and Ireland. Sponsored trees are planted in schools and wildlife habitat sites, linked to education and biodiversity benefits.

“I'm the caretaker at the school where today we have planted more than 200 trees as part of encouraging wildlife onto the site. We have large school grounds – five or six acres in total. I suggested to the leadership team that we should make a more wildlife friendly environment. We've got the kids involved because hopefully in a few years they will be able to come back and there will be a little woodland that they can be very proud of.”
- Dan Rickward, Caretaker, Ponteland Community Primary School

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