Planting Hope for the Future – A Chestnut Tree for Our Future

As part of our Erasmus+ project “From Forest to Future”, our students took part in a chestnut tree planting activity designed to strengthen environmental awareness, responsibility for nature and hands-on STEM learning.

Our school is located in a rural area where forests and forestry are closely connected to local life and livelihoods. During the activity, students planted a young chestnut sapling in the school garden. The sapling was approximately 35 cm tall and had only 2–3 leaves. Students observed its initial condition, supported the soil with natural fertilizer, watered the sapling and discussed the importance of soil, water, nutrients, regular care and environmental conditions for healthy growth.

The activity also became a simple nature-based STEM learning experience. Students followed visible changes in the sapling’s height and number of leaves and compared it with mature chestnut trees in their surroundings, which are several metres tall, have many leaves and produce chestnuts. This comparison helped them understand that growth in nature can be explored through measurable elements such as height, leaf number, time and change.

Although the sapling survived until winter, it was not strong enough to endure the difficult winter conditions. This outcome became an important part of the learning process. Students understood that environmental action requires not only planting, but also patience, continuity, observation and responsibility.

Through this activity, students developed awareness of environmental sustainability while using basic STEM skills such as observation, measurement, comparison and drawing conclusions in a real-life learning environment. The activity reflected the core approach of our project: turning nature into a learning laboratory.