As part of a joint campaign with the Coordination Office for Sustainable Youth Work of the Saarpfalz district, the youngsters of SV 07 Elversberg's youth training centre set a strong example for sustainability and environmental awareness. On 10 February, 14 children between the ages of ten and twelve planted 90 young trees in a wooded area in Neunkirchen-Kohlhof.
Under the expert guidance of dedicated forester Hannah Sieren, the participants learnt not only the correct planting technique, but also the importance of the forest for the climate, biodiversity and future generations. Within an hour, 75 trees had already been planted by the highly motivated young footballers and their companions - officials from the youth training centre and the office as well as parents - and it was time to plant more. A total of 50 chestnuts and 40 oaks were planted with protection against browsing by wild animals using the effective method of clump planting.
The aim of the campaign was to create an awareness of sustainability and responsibility towards nature among young people. District Administrator Frank John was impressed by the commitment of the young participants:
"This campaign impressively demonstrates how important it is to get children interested in nature and environmental protection at an early age. Planting trees today means taking responsibility for tomorrow - and this is exactly the kind of thinking we need for a sustainable future."
The organisers hope that the newly planted trees will not only grow, but that they will also help the children to develop a lasting environmental awareness.