The Woodland Trust says schools in the Hartlepool area are among those helping to plant an extra 1,100 trees across Cleveland this Spring.

Students and youth groups will be taking part in pick-and-mix tree planting initiatives to help safeguard our native trees and hedgerows.

The 1,100 trees will add to over 160,000 planted across the UK as part of the Tree For All campaign launched by the Trust.

Schools had a choice of packs from hedge tree species, copse species or seeds.

In Hartlepool, Grange Primary School will be planting hedges and seeds while copses and seeds are on the countryside agenda for pupils from Greatham CE Primary School.

Hartlepool Sixth Form College has chosen to add more copses to the countryside while at Hesleden Primary School in east Durham, West View Primary and St Helen's Primary, in Hartlepool, copses and seeds will be planted.

Also in on the act are pupils at Lynnfield Primary School who will be putting in hedges.

Rossmere Primary School is planting seeds, as is Sacred Heart RC Primary, while hedges and seeds are planned by Springwell, St John Vianney RC Primary School and Throston Primary School.

Paul Bunton of the Woodland Trust said: "Because of modern lifestyles, many children are growing up with little connection with their natural environment. Tree For All is about inspiring young people to become future guardians of the natural environment and to encourage people to become more in touch with nature, increasing their understanding and enjoyment of woodland."

Since the launch of the Trust's hedge and copse scheme in 2004, schoolchildren in Cleveland have contributed to the reinstatement of over 100 miles of hedgerows.

To find out how your school or youth group can get involved in the scheme this coming autumn visit http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/hedge/