Student volunteers and teachers in front of the Vidyavanam at GMUP School, Poonoor, Kozhikode.
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The laughter of children at play mingles with the birdsong from the mini forest, Vidyavanam, at Government Mappila Upper Primary (GMUP) School, Poonoor, 30 km away from Kozhikode city.
In an age when children are walking away from nature, students at GMUP School are celebrating the week-long ‘Van Mahotsav’ in their own Vidyavanam, a haven for nearly 50 tree species, bordered by a canal on three sides and lovingly nurtured by their own hands. One of them, Anamika A.P., a young nature lover, says she loves spending time among the trees, feeding the birds and fish.
Praising the well-implemented Vidyavanam at the school, R. Keerthi, Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry, said, “Vidyavanam is an initiative of the Kerala Forest and Wildlife department as part of social forestry, through which school and college students plant, nurture and care for trees, creating miniature forests on their campuses. Through this initiative, children develop values of forest conservation and environmental responsibility from an early age.”
Under the Kozhikode Social Forestry Division, there are eight Vidyavanams. Excited about the bulbuls that visit regularly, Shadin Muhammed V.P., a Class 6 student, said, “We love watching and feeding the birds. We leave a few guavas, rose apples, and bananas on the trees for the birds to feed on before enjoying the rest ourselves. When there are no fruits, we bring some from our homes for our bird friends.“
“All trees have their scientific names tagged on them, so we can now recognise them anywhere. On our birthdays, we bring saplings to plant,” said Anamika.
“Most of us have vegetable gardens at home. We share pictures of our plants and harvests in a dedicated WhatsApp group. Every year, the best farmer is selected from among us and recognised with an award,” she added.
“The children are eager to participate in all activities. They learn to care for nature at school and carry those values back home, where they create a safe space for trees, birds, and other animals,” said K. Rajeeshlal, the teacher-conservator of Vidyavanam.
Classes are taken out into the fresh open air, where children learn amid the serene greenery. “Practical classes on plant budding, layering, and grafting are conducted at the Vidyavanam. Regular classes and club meetings are also held inside the area, making classroom learning more engaging and enjoyable,” added Mr. Rajeeshlal.
The initiative is flourishing under the leadership of Mr. Rajeeshlal, assistant teacher-conservators V. Vipinya and V. Vineetha, and headmistress P.K. Suma.
Published – July 04, 2026 08:04 pm IST
