Conservationist appeals to schools for help in naming new tree species

A conservation scientist from the University of York has discovered a new species of tree and wants schools and colleges around the country to help him name it.

Dr Andy Marshall discovered the tree by accident in a remote mountain forest inTanzania as he was studying one of the world’s rarest primates - the kipunji monkey.

During the 2011 trip his attention was drawn by a curious tree that he could not identify. Soon afterwards, while rummaging through dried specimens at the National Museums of Kenya, it turned out it was an entirely new species from the genus Polyceratocarpus.

"Most people are thinking about their Christmas tree at the moment, but I want people to think about a totally different tree altogether.

Schools for Forests is a competition and education scheme for schools and colleges, aiming to raise funds for the conservation of tropical forests. The school that raises the most money will have the 20-metre tall tree named after them.

Those who raise over £1000 will be twinned with a school in Tanzania, and invited to an awards ceremony and activity day at Flamingo Land.

Other rewards such as t-shirts will be given to those who raise over £50, and all schools signing up for the Schools for Forests competition will receive teaching resources tailored for the primary and secondary curriculum.