The Our City, Our River (OCOR) project is in the process of planting 225 trees at Derby schools, giving the environment a boost and highlighting the importance of community benefits for this project.

With 24 schools signing up to receive trees, the Council and contractors John Sisk and Son have shown their commitment to replanting along the river corridor and championing education and ecology.

Each participating school will receive a diverse mix of fruit and ornamental trees that will, in time, provide learning opportunities, shade and new habitats for wildlife.

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport, and Sustainability, said: 

It’s great to see the community getting involved in this scheme. The benefits of OCOR stretch beyond defending riverside properties from floodwater. Local communities will be able to experience all the benefits that these trees have to offer as they take root and flourish.

I’m proud of is the way we have delivered on our commitment to replanting, and I look forward to this continuing.

This project is being supported by OCOR contractors John Sisk and Son, who recently helped plant trees at Chaddesden Park Primary School.

Lee Long, Project Director for John Sisk and Son, said:

Each tree planted as part of the Our City, Our River project helps restore balance along the River Derwent, as it enhances biodiversity, and gives young people a living classroom. These moments of planting today become the environmental resilience of Derby tomorrow.

When asked why they applied to the OCOR trees scheme, Rachel from Chaddesden Park Junior School, said:

We see this as a wonderful opportunity — not only to support the environment, but to help children truly understand where their food comes from. When asked where fruit grows, many children say, “the shop.” By planting fruit trees, we can change that perception and give them real, hands-on experiences.

The trees will allow us to observe the seasons in action and explore important Science concepts along the way. The blossom will attract bees, the fruit will welcome birds, and the trees themselves will become a living classroom.

The learning opportunities are endless, and we are incredibly grateful for this chance to make such a lasting impact.

These trees add to the more than 500 that have already been planted as part of OCOR, which aims to plant over 2000 trees over the course of the project.

This initiative is just one of the many environmental enrichments that are being implemented as part of the OCOR project. Along the Derwent new habitats for birds, bats and otters have been created, as well as a new fish refuge lagoon near the Mill Fleam pumping station.

The latest phase of OCOR, Derby Riverside, is currently in progress on the left bank of the River Derwent from Causey Bridge to the rail bridge across the river. Contractors John Sisk and Son are building a new flood wall and demolishing office buildings on Stuart Street to create a new park for the city, which will make space for water during a flood event.