Darran Park Primary

Here is the story of the Deforestation Free Journey from the Year 5 class at Darran Park Primary School in Rhondda Cynon Taf, where Catrin at Size of Wales came to work with the children to deliver inspiring workshops. In the workshop the children learnt all about deforestation, why protecting tropical forests matter so much and how our choices here in Wales can make a big difference to forests around the world. 

“Learning about deforestation and tropical forests with Catrin was fun. In the first workshop we played games to understand the link between climate change and deforestation, made Mayan hot chocolate and played a plasticine tree game to learn the importance of agroforestry. 

Agroforestry was better because the taller plants protected the coffee plants from extreme weather and birds and other creatures came to eat all the pests. It was also better for the soil because of the different plants. We learnt that the best way to help stop deforestation was to buy Fairtrade, which helps cocoa farmers and has 100% no deforestation.

In the workshop on South America, we learnt that the animals get fed soy beans, which is a problem because the soy beans are being grown on land in South America, causing deforestation of some of the most precious rainforests in the world, where the Guarani live.

Some of the class then went to Youth COP to learn more, and met with a representative of Castell Howell catering suppliers. We wrote a letter to Castell Howell asking whether they can supply the necessary ingredients for a deforestation free brownie, and expressing the problems of the environmental impact of palm oil, cocoa and soy. 

In the spring term, Mrs Owens set up an Ethical Cooking Club. Every week we cooked something different, using sustainable ingredients and making deforestation free swaps. We cooked rainbow fruit salad, cupcakes using Fairtrade cocoa powder, and a meat-free chilli,  with the children taking home their deforestation free meal and certificate to share the information with their parents.”

“Trees are the lungs of the Earth. If we lose them the planet cannot breathe properly.”