Schools across Pennine Lancashire will be planting almost 4,000 trees.

The project will see 40 schools plant trees on their grounds as part of a wider scheme between the Ribble Rivers Trust and Prospects Foundation, to plant 40,000 trees this winter.

Before planting begins, children will participate in educational activities to learn about the importance of trees for the environment, wildlife and people, as well as what trees need to survive.

Depending on space, each primary school will plant between one and more than 100 trees, including Blackburn’s Holy Trinity CE Primary School, which already grows its own fruit and vegetables.

Year 3 teacher, Millie Lowe said: “We are excited to plant some trees around our school. We hope the trees will provide habitats for animals, produce more oxygen in our area and help the local community.”

A further 35,400 trees will be planted on 95 council-owned sites including Bank Hall Park and next to Unity College in Burnley.

Species to be planted from January to March include English oak, alder, goat willow, silver birch, hawthorn, hazel, bird cherry, wild cherry, rowan, hornbeam, field maple and crab apple.

It’s hoped residents will volunteer to help plant the trees and benefit from the outdoor physical activity and chance to meet new people.

Ellie Brown, of the RRT, said: “Local people will benefit too from the fruit grown on the fruit trees, which they are welcome to harvest and eat.”

The charities joined forces with Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale councils to deliver the Pennine Lancashire Treescapes Project.

The project has been launched thanks to £160,000 of funding from the Forestry Commission’s Local Authority Treescapes Fund and £11,000 from Trees for Cities.