Carlisle United Community Sports Trust's inaugural Komatsu Climate Heroes project culminated with three classes visiting the site with Blues striker Georgie Kelly.
The CST have been delivering 20 different classes of six sessions based on climate change and the environment, with over 350 participants involved in the project.
It has provided a vital opportunity for an introduction to the basics of climate change, looking at biodiversity and spreading awareness of what can be done to preserve wildlife in the local area, alongside highlighting future global environmental challenges.
The project began in 2023 after Komatsu Forest approached the CST about a partnership to deliver a sustainability programme in schools with the company funding the sessions.
Komatsu are a forestry company in the UK that prides itself on using sustainable practices to create a brighter future in the industry and are also the sleeve sponsor on United's kits for the upcoming season.
Classroom-based sessions are bespoke, drawing in information about the environment and demographics around Carlisle with thought-provoking discussions or activities.
Five weeks of in-class delivery end with a trip to the company's base on the outskirts of the City, allowing the pupils to gauge real-life sustainable practices building on their growing environmental knowledge.
The children were given an overview of Komatsu's aims and safety procedures before being shown around the site.
They had the opportunity to use a simulator, which let them practice their forestry skills before the chance to sit in one of Komatsu's Forwarders, where they were guided on the mechanics of the machine.
A quiz and a look at the mechanical details were further activities for the classes to enjoy before ending with a Komatsu goody bag.
Georgie Kelly made a special appearance at the Wednesday afternoon session with the Irish striker enjoying a tour where he asked plenty of questions before going on the simulator and Forwarder.
Speaking on his visit to Komatsu United forward, Kelly said: "It's been great and it's a great set-up they have here.
"They have quite a focus on reducing their emissions, so it's nice for one of the partners of the club to be thinking in that kind of sense.
"It's a nice introduction for the kids to see different bits and how even the likes of forestry and that type of industry can be a little bit more sustainable, reduce emissions and have different net-zero targets."
Komatsu's Carmel Quincey said: "It's amazing, the children love it and so do we.
"They come here, we teach them exactly what we do, from the replanting of seedlings up to the harvesting of the forests."
CST Sustainability Co-ordinator Natasha Messier spoke about the importance of the sessions, adding: "Absolutely, it's their future, and they need to know what we're up against.
"But we also need to feel hope and empowerment that we can change things and we can do the right things.
"And there's lots of positive solutions out there, so that's what we're all about."
