The programme will provide young people with opportunities to visit the community forest in Bedfordshire and take part in interactive environment themed workshops and activities such as tree planting.
“We are delighted to partner with The Forest of Marston Vale Trust for this exciting initiative that provides increased education opportunities to young people in our local community,” said This initiative provides schools, charities and community groups in and around Luton with an opportunity to access nature and learn about the environment and biodiversity and is the first of two skills and education programmes that London Luton Airport will roll-out this year,” said David Vazquez, head of sustainability at London Luton Airport.
“These programmes have been designed to equip local students with skills, opportunities and career insight over the course of their school journey and underline LLA’s commitment to ensure local young people are inspired to make a positive environmental impact.”
Tennyson Road Primary School in Luton is the first school to participate in the programme. Staff and 120 children from the school visited the Forest of Marston Vale in February, planting over 800 trees, alongside LLA volunteers.
The environmental education programme is initially available to beneficiaries of LLA’s Greener Future Fund. Launched in 2023, the Greener Future Fund provides grants to support biodiversity, carbon reduction and environmental education projects run by organisations, charities and schools within a five-mile radius of the airport.
The programme has so far awarded grants totalling over £100,000, benefitting over 13,000 local people, including the staff and children of Tennyson Road Primary School, who were awarded £10,000 to create a green learning space within the school grounds.
