"It's our future": Year 6 pupils inspire Caerphilly's deforestation pledge
After weeks of researching deforestation around the world, Year 6 pupils at Waunfawr Primary School helped influence a landmark sustainability decision.
Hello and welcome to The Valleys Lead.
We’ve got a lovely story for you today about a group of Year 6 students in Caerphilly County Borough who partnered with the charity Size of Wales to figure out what they could do about deforestation around the world. Children are our future, and these kids are actively participating in democratic processes to ensure their planet is protected.
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The Valleys Briefing
(A little round-up of some stories in brief from our valleys. Anytime you have something you’d like to share, no matter how big or small, email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com):
A family-owned forestry and land management contractor, Cwm Agricultural, has opened a new headquarters in Aberdare and plans to double its workforce within two years as efforts rise across Wales for peatland restoration, flood prevention and conservation work. “For most of our 19 years we have let the work speak for itself,” said Neil Maycock, sales and operations manager. “We have grown by doing the job properly and being asked back. What has changed is that we now have management in place so we can take on bigger programmes without losing the standards that got us here. The move to Aberdare gives us a proper base to coordinate that work.”
More than 1,000 people have opposed a new data centre near Pontyclun. They have signed a petition opposing the building of the data centre just off the A4119. Plans have been submitted to Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council for a new 18,220-square-metre data centre over two internal floors plus a 2,260-square-metre adjoining three-storey office block at Mwyndy Cross in RCT. Resident Lizzie Williams said: “Talbot Green Developments are developers based in Aylesbury owned eventually by a larger company in New Zealand – the money won’t be staying in Wales. Data centres run off skeleton staff, the long-term job prospects are slim, and as AI continues to improve these positions will be needed less and less.” She also raised concerns about children’s education, environmental impacts, noise pollution, and the rising cost of electricity for locals.
Five candidates will stand in the upcoming Hengoed ward by-election for Caerphilly County Borough Council. The by-election was called after Donna Cushing vacated her seat, following her election to the Senedd. Candidates standing are: Anthony Cook – Plaid Cymru, David Emmins – Welsh Conservatives, Kimberley Heath – Reform UK Wales, Dan Kelly – Welsh Labour, and David Scullin – Welsh Liberal Democrats. The Council by-election will be held on Thursday August 6, with polling stations open between 7am and 10pm.
“It’s our future”: Year 6 pupils inspire Caerphilly’s deforestation-free pledge
Caerphilly County Borough Council has partnered up with local Year 6 pupils from Waunfawr Primary School in Crosskeys to take part in a democratic process to shape a discussion ahead of a vote to become a Deforestation-Free Champion Council.
Before councillors cast their decision, they went to the school - sitting alongside pupils, procurement officers, and catering teams - to explore the connection between everyday ingredients such as palm oil, soy used for animal feed, beef from South America, cocoa, and coffee, which often end up being served on school menus, and the destruction of tropical forests.
Melissa Armishaw, headteacher of Waunfawr Primary School, told The Valleys Lead that this decision to involve the school hasn’t come from out of the blue. For eight years, Waunfawr Primary has worked closely with the catering team to improve the quality and variety of school meals, with cooking an integral part of the school curriculum.
“During our Year 6 Globetrotters project, the children naturally began asking, ‘Where does our food come from?’” Armishaw said. “That question led us to Size of Wales (a climate change charity that aims to protect at least two million hectares of tropical forests) and opened the door to exploring how everyday food choices can be connected to tropical deforestation. From that point, the project became something much bigger than we had imagined.”
The vote came at a critical time. Following several heatwaves across Wales, communities are increasingly feeling the direct impacts of climate change.
Forests play a vital role in cooling the planet by absorbing carbon and regulating rainfall and temperatures.
“As Wales feels the effects of climate change more directly, protecting forests has never been more urgent,” Nichola James, from Size of Wales, told The Valleys Lead.
The UK Government, alongside the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, has outlined its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2030, drawing on the commitments made by the UK and the UK’s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to summarise and emphasise our collective ambition and determination to work together to address biodiversity loss.
But it isn’t only about protecting the UK, Wales, or our valleys – it’s about supporting the people living in communities where deforestation occurs.
“The best protected forests on earth are those with thriving indigenous communities within them,” James continued. “Our work also includes helping communities secure their land rights, because often they don’t have rights even though they have lived there for thousands of years. When deforestation takes places, it’s an issue of climate justice.”
James is aware that children are the future of the planet, and that it’s vital they be included in the discussions occurring about climate change and biodiversity loss.
“Involving children is not just a PR thing,” she said about this project. “Ultimately, children are the ones living with the consequences of decisions we make today.”
The Year 6 children at Waunfawr Primary School spent several weeks sharing their knowledge, challenging assumptions, and proposing practical solutions for creating school meals that are nutritious, affordable, and free from links to deforestation.
Margot, an 11-year-old at Waunfawr Primary, told The Valleys Lead she previously “didn’t know that there were ingredients hidden in school meals that have an impact on deforestation.”
