Norwich Union staff join the Woodland Trust to plant a new wood to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar
Up to one hundred staff members from Norwich Union (1) will join the Woodland Trust (2), part of the UK’s leading conservation charity, this weekend at Easter Fossoway in Carnbo, near Kinross, for a tree planting day at the new 10-acre Swiftsure Wood – one of 33 newly-planted commemorative ‘Trafalgar Woods’ throughout the UK.
Event: Norwich Union staff tree planting at new ‘Trafalgar Wood’
Venue: Easter Fossoway Farm, Carnbo, near Kinross (off the A91)
When: Between 11.00am and 1.00pm on Sunday 20 November 2005
Swiftsure Wood is named after HMS Swiftsure (3), one of the 27 warships of the Trafalgar fleet, which was captained by a Scot, Captain William Rutherford (4). It is situated on the farm of the late Tony Wilks, who had a distinguished Naval career. The wood will link two areas of native woodland and will be created from oak, ash, alder and willow. Shrubs will include hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel and grey willow. Local school children and the local community have already been involved in tree planting on the site at events sponsored by Norwich Union.
Deborah O’Malley, community affairs consultant for Norwich Union, said: “We are very pleased to be involved with such a worthwhile cause and our team of volunteers are really looking forward to helping ensure Swiftsure Wood continues to be enjoyed by the community for a long time to come.”
Scotland has a strong maritime past and contributed significantly to the Battle of Trafalgar. Five of the 27 Captains of the fleet’s warships were Scottish. In addition, Scotland’s industry contributed through timber products, sails from Baxter’s of Dundee, iron cannons from Falkirk and, most importantly, crewmembers, with almost 30% of the 18,000-strong crew hailing from Scottish towns and fishing villages. Nelson’s Doctor and the woman who embalmed his body when he died were Scottish. In addition, children as young as 10 years old served as crew during the Battle – the youngest being a cabin boy from Leith, Edinburgh.
Trees played a vital role in the Battle of Trafalgar. The fleet of 27 warships contained timber from around 50,000 oaks, representing roughly two million years of oak tree growth. Nelson himself acknowledged the importance of trees to the success of the British Navy and, in 1803, wrote to Parliament calling for more trees to be planted to safeguard ship building timber supplies.
Andrew Fairbairn, Development Manager for the Woodland Trust Scotland, said: “Our aim is to highlight the important role timber played in British Naval history. We want to get people thinking about just how pivotal timber was then, and remains today – not only to the navy but also in everyday life. Scotland’s trees are as important now as they were 200 years ago, and we can all do our bit to protect them, and to plant new ones.”
Some 41 local men and boys from Perth and Kinross served alongside Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. A searchable database can be found at: www.treeforall.org.uk/trafalgar/crewlist
The Trafalgar Woods Project is part of the Tree for All campaign, the largest children’s tree planting initiative Scotland has ever seen. The campaign’s vision is that every child should have the chance to plant trees. Two million trees will be planted across Scotland over the next five years as part of the campaign – two for every child under the age of 16. More information can be found at: www.treeforall.org.uk/scotland
Media contacts:
Andrew Fairbairn, Development Manager, Woodland Trust Scotland:
Tel: 01764 662554, Mob: 07770 482939, E-mail: andrewfairbairn@woodland-trust.org.uk
Sally Leeman, Norwich Union:
Tel: 01603 684225, Mob: 07800 699670, Email: sally-leeman@norwich-union.co.uk
Stan Blackley, Portable PR
Tel: 08700 742449, Mob: 07770 742449, E-mail: stan@portablepr.com
1. Norwich Union
Norwich Union is the UK's largest insurer with a market share of around 14 per cent. With a focus on insurance for individuals and small businesses, Norwich Union insures: one in five households; one in seven motor vehicles; and around 800,000 businesses. Norwich Union products are available through a variety of distribution channels including brokers, corporate partners such as banks and building societies and Norwich Union Direct. Aviva, Norwich Union’s parent company, recently announced its acquisition of the RAC. The acquisition brings together the RAC's powerful brand and customer base with the expertise and leading position in motor insurance of Norwich Union Insurance.
2. The Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. Established in 1972, the organisation now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. Today the Trust owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,100 hectares. Further news can be accessed at: http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/
3. HMS Swiftsure
HMS Swiftsure was launched in 1804, replacing an earlier HMS Swiftsure, which had been taken by the French in 1801. She took part in the chase of the French to the West Indies before they joined the Spanish to form a single combined fleet, which met the British at the Battle of Trafalgar. She formed part of Admiral Collingwood’s column at Trafalgar, being near the rear between HMS Thunderer and HMS Defence. HMS Swiftsure first engaged the French Achille for 40 minutes, leaving her badly damaged, before other British ships joined the action, and her boats helped rescue the crew of Achille when she caught fire. Although damaged in both rigging and hull, after the battle, HMS Swiftsure took the badly damaged French Redoubtable in tow, but was forced to abandon this when she began to sink. HMS Swiftsure’s boats rescued 169 of the Redoubtable’s crew before the rising storm made further efforts impossible, Redoubtable sank with some of the crew still aboard while Swiftsure stood by. In the morning a further 50 survivors were rescued from the water and taken to Gibraltar. Swiftsure suffered 17 casualties After repairs at Gibraltar, she was able to join Admiral Collingwood’s squadron blockading Cartagena.
4. Captain William Rutherford
HMS Swiftsure was captained by William Gordon Rutherford, the son of John Rutherford of Bowland Stow, near Edinburgh, and Frances, widow of Gabriel Johnson, Governor of North Carolina. He was born in North Carolina in 1764, educated at Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities and entered the service as a boy in 1778. In 1805, he was appointed to HMS Swiftsure, which he commanded at Trafalgar. He received the thanks of Parliament, a gold medal, and a sword of honour from the Patriotic Fund in 1805, and went on to become Captain of the Greenwich Hospital in 1814. He died in Greenwich Hospital in 1818, and was buried in St. Margaret's, Westminster, where a tablet was erected to his memory
