Charlie and Lola author plants trees at Kentish Town school

Primrose Hill author Lauren Child said that she was backing the Woodland Trust’s free trees scheme to show how “little things can make a difference”.

During her visit to Torriano Primary School last week she explained that her latest book Clarice Bean Smile explores children’s anxiety about the environment.

She added: “I thought I would look at my climate anxiety through the eyes of a child. And the child I chose was Clarice Bean.

“I wondered what trees might tell us if they could talk. Perhaps they would explain that they are like no other and tell us about the insects, the birds, the nature they support.”

Lauren Child with illustration of book character Clarice Bean (Image: Polly Borland)

• READ MORE - Look inside canalside pub reopened after four years with stunning makeover

Torriano School in Kentish Town is now one of thousands of schools and community groups across the UK to have benefitted from the scheme.

Rose O’Brien, who leads on personal, social and health education at the school, said: “Despite being in the heart of Camden, our school is a green oasis and we were excited to add the native British trees provided by the Trust.

“We all enjoyed getting our hands dirty as we planted together and the excitement of doing this with the creator of Clarence Bean was clear on all of the children’s faces.”

Steve Dewhurst, from the Woodland Trust’s tree pack team, added that Torriano applied for 15 saplings last year, and that everyone had “great fun” planting them.

Children at Torriano Primary School planting the trees (Image: Torriano Primary School)

The charity says that trees are “one of our best defences in the fight against the effects of climate change” as they help to absorb carbon, cool cities, prevent floods and protect wildlife. 

The Woodland Trust’s tree packs have been funded by lead partners Sainsbury's, Lloyds Bank, OVO, Bank of Scotland and Sofology.