Date: 13/02/2008
Children from St Anne's School in Buxton joined the Cavendish Fields Residents' Group and High Peak Borough Council's Parks team to plant 5 trees last week.
The sapling oak, beech and hawthorn trees were planted in an open space in Cavendish Fields to replace a large beech tree that had to be felled because it had become unsafe.
At the request of local residents, the Council has left a 4 metre high stump from the felled tree, which will be turned into a sculpture.
The Cavendish Fields Residents' Group, which was formed to raise money for the project, will be working with the school children, High Peak Parks Department and a local artist, Andrew Frost to design the sculpture.
St Anne's School has also made bat and bird boxes to put on the mature trees in the open space, these have now been erected as the first part project.
Mike Moore, the Chair of Cavendish Fields Residents' Group, said: "This is an exciting project aimed at replacing the tree with a piece of art which should last for another for another 30 to 40 years. The theme for the sculpture will attempt to incorporate the nature of the local area and remember the Cavendish Girls School, which formally occupied the site."
Councillor John Haken, High Peak Borough Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "Climate change is the most critical challenge facing everyone today, but the little things we do can make a big difference and this includes planting trees.
"Trees are important because they help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere - that's why it is important to replace trees and plant new ones."