Hundreds of trees are being planted across Oxford to mark National Tree Week.

A total of 268 trees are being planted across the city, including 38 which were planted in South Park on Tuesday with the help of schoolchildren from East Oxford Primary School.

The youngsters plan to “adopt” the trees, following their growth and progress.

Class teacher Helen Osborn said: “They have each made cardboard leaves to place by the trees, which will disappear over time, and then they will be keeping an eye on their tree in the park.

“It makes a lovely link into our local area and an opportunity to look at how things change.”

She said it was planned for the pupils to regularly visit the trees they had planted in different seasons to see how they are different.

The children helped plant 15 alder, 15 swamp cypress, five oak and three beech trees, all of which were paid for by Oxford City Council.

Shazia Akhter, eight, from Cowley, said: “The trees have no leaves now because it’s winter but we can see them in spring when they get new leaves.”

Swathi Kumar, nine, from Headington, said: “It was really muddy and our shoes were full of water but it is a good idea to plant trees to improve the environment and the condition of the air.”

Mikolaj Tomczynski, nine, from Donnington, said: “Although it was very wet, it was a good idea to plant trees because they soak up the water.”

The trees were among the first in the city to be planted, and all 268 will be planted in parks and highway verges this winter.

National Tree Week runs until Saturday.

City councillor Nuala Young, who represents St Clement’s, said: “People are beginning to recognise that trees are important for people’s well-being and mental health, as well as absorbing water and carbon dioxide.

“Some of the trees in South Park unfortunately have a fungus and will have to be felled, so it is good to be starting to plant new trees that will take over from them.”

“It is lovely to think these children will be growing up as the trees will be growing and that one day they can show their children the trees they were involved in planting.”

The council is currently halfway through a three-year audit of all trees in the city.

Specialists are checking 32,000 trees and recording their health in a database.

Those found to be decayed will be chopped down, while others will be reduced in size, pruned or regularly monitored.

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk