We’re excited to share that two Native Black Poplar saplings — one of Britain’s rarest native trees — have been planted on our school grounds near the river this week.

A huge thank you to the Blandford & Stour Rotary Club, whose initiative made this possible. After recently planting two saplings in the Stour Meadows, the Rotary Club approached us with the idea of bringing this rare species to our school, helping support the local environment and biodiversity.

Working in partnership with Trees for Wimborne, grower Niki Harper, and North Dorset Rangers Graham Stanley and Luke Cray, the Rotary Club helped secure two additional saplings for our grounds.

Native Black Poplars thrive in marshy riverbank conditions, helping prevent erosion, reducing flood risks, and providing valuable habitats for wildlife. As these saplings grow, our students will have the opportunity to track their development and study their positive impact on the riverbank ecosystem.

Here’s a wonderful insight from grower Niki Harper:

“The Native Black Poplar is Britain’s rarest large tree, growing up to 30–40 metres. There are fewer than 100 mature trees in Dorset, and none in Blandford—until now. Working together with Dorset Council, Blandford and Stour Rotary Club and Blandford School, we obtained four trees, two male and two female, to be planted in ideal locations. We now wait in anticipation for the trees to come into leaf and begin their 200-year story.”

We are incredibly grateful to the Rotary Club for their support and vision. We can’t wait to watch these amazing trees grow and inspire students for generations to come. 🌱💚