YATE pupils welcomed Steve Webb MP to their primary school to tell him about their focus on learning about woodwork through their tree club.

Pupils at North Road Primary School on North Road were visited by Mr Webb on Friday, January 23 to learn about the school's tree club, formed in September 2013.

The club was formed following the school receiving a letter from a Yate resident, Roy Bishop, who was an ex-woodwork teacher keen not to see the art of traditional wood carving disappear.

Mr Bishop arranged with the woodlands department of South Gloucestershire to take the children to Ridge Wood to collect seeds in November 2013 and on the return to school the pupils planted their own tree- oak, horse chestnut and more.

Pupils at the school have been encouraged to grow their own trees at home, and the tree club has taught the children about seasonal changes and how wood is used.

Headteacher Jo Williams said: “The tree club started with reception, year one and year two and will follow the children as they go through the school. Each year the reception children will join in so eventually the whole school will be involved.

“The children enjoyed meeting Steve Webb and telling him about the tree club. It was also lovely to share the wonderful work that Mr Bishop has started at our school.

“He has no links with the school but voluntarily gives up his own time to share his passion and love of wood and woodwork with the children, so it doesn’t become a dying skill.”

The tree club has a theme each year, with the first year for 2013-2014 being tree growing and the use of wood-growing oak and this year the theme is fruit trees.

Mr Webb said: “I very much enjoyed my visit to North Road school. The children have learned a lot from Mr Bishop about different sorts of trees and about the things that you can make from wood.

"It is good that children of all ages, including the very youngest children in the school, have been involved in the tree club and are learning new things about the natural world. I hope that this will be the start of a lifelong interest in nature."