Welsh Government environment minister Hannah Blythyn planted a tree in Abertysswg as part of a ten-year celebration of a scheme to create a Welsh national forest.
The minister was joined by Natalie Vaughan, who wrote to Sue Essex AM when she was a Cardiff schoolgirl and suggested planting a tree for every child born or adopted in Wales.
More than 90,000 trees have been planted across four locations in Caerphilly at Coed Mclaren in Abertysswg, Coed Syfi in Phillipstown, Coed Bryn Oer near Bryn Bach Park and Pantside Community Woodland Park.
Caerphilly council’s Cabinet Member Cllr Nigel George said: “We have been working closely with the Woodland Trust and Natural Resources Wales to help create a Welsh national forest of native trees.
“It is hoped that these trees will help children across Wales feel a personal connection with their environment.”
In 2008, the Welsh Government pledged to plant a native Welsh broadleaf tree for every child born or adopted in Wales calling the scheme Plant!
Since then, 15 new woodlands have been created across Wales, with more than 380,000 trees planted.
Every month, Natural Resources Wales, which runs the scheme receives the numbers of babies born and adopted in Wales.
It then arranges for a mixture of native broadleaf trees to be planted, including oak, ash, birch, cherry, rowan and willow.
Every baby is given the location of the woodland which contains their tree and receives a tree-planting certificate soon after birth or adoption.
Hannah Blythyn AM said: “I’m delighted to meet Natalie and I look forward to seeing the trees we’ve planted go on to flourish.
“The scheme will give young people a personal stake in the future of the Welsh countryside and supports one of my top priorities: to increase woodland creation in Wales.”
Natural Resources Wales Plant! co-ordinator Kate Thomson said: “Plant! is helping to create new community woodlands for the children of Wales to visit with their families and watch them grow as they do.”