The planting of avenues of trees close to local schools helps to create green corridors. This reduces speeding traffic and encourages walking to school, reducing the number of cars on the roads. This in turn decreases the amount of particulates, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide entering the atmosphere, high levels of which are known to affect respiratory function and stunt lung growth in children, possibly irreversibly.

There is also the added bonus of a tree's ability to prevent dangerous illegal pavement parking directly outside schools, and to help with the dispersion of air pollution.

When located correctly trees can act as a protective screen between playing children and dirty exhaust fumes, and there are many more benefits, including increased biodiversity and encouraging interactivity between children and nature. It is easy to see how school street trees create a healthier and safer place for children during the school run.

Street Trees for Living hopes to not only plant avenues of street trees directly outside schools, but also to create Green Grids connecting schools to housing, schools and green spaces. With your donations this hope can become a reality.

Michelle Henderson-Vieira, STfL Tree Champion and Global Learning and Geography Lead, Rathfern Primary School, pilot for The School Trees Project