CHILDREN have received hands-on lessons about the environment.

Representatives of Comply Direct, an environmental compliance scheme based on the Broughton Hall estate near Skipton, spent an afternoon at Earby Springfield School planting 50 willow trees in the school grounds to help offset the company’s carbon emissions.

The firm has multiple certifications and accreditations, including in demonstrating carbon neutrality, and as part of this chose to purchase enough trees to offset its carbon emissions.

The company was keen to work with a local school which could benefit from the trees; Earby Springfield School was local, has great outside space and was therefore a perfect choice.

Melanie Harper and Martin Hyde, from Comply Direct, joined Earby Springfield staff and pupils, getting their hands dirty to plant the willow trees at the school.

The trees were planted to create a tunnel of trees for the pupils, which was tried and tested straightaway by the children.

Head teacher Dawn Liversidge said: "We really value our outside space here at the school and it was great to receive the trees, create a tunnel of willows and get the children involved in planting them."