CIS and Woodland Trust join together to celebrate Scotland's heritage
In the run up to this weekend's CIS cup final pupils from St Bridget's in Glasgow and Wellwood primary School in Dunfermline were given some extra help to plant their hedge and copse packs.
Celtic star Dion Dublin visited the Glasgow school and demonstrated some of his ball skills before helping the children plant their trees. meanwhile in Dunfermline the Wellwood pupils received a helping hand from Dunfermline players Ian Campbell and Craig Wilson.
Thanks to CIS, the schools are two of the 200 Scottish schools to receive tree planting packs. Over 6,000 trees have been sent out this spring, as well as information on how to plant and care for the saplings. Teachers at the school have been encouraged to help pupils plant the native specimens and use the teachers notes and worksheets to help children learn more about trees. The initiative is part of the Woodland Trust's Tree For All Campaign, the largest children's tree-planting mission that has taken place in the UK.
The trees within the packs have been provided by Alba Trees, whose Managing Director, Rodney Shearer, is also a Director at Dunfermline Athletic. He will not only be keeping a firm eye on the rising forest but also the score line from Sunday's CIS Insurance Cup Final between Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic.
Andrew Fairbairn of the Woodland Trust Scotland said: "Woods play such a valuable role in improving the quality of our lives. By planting and looking after these trees the children are contributing to a greener future for all of us. This is a great initiative to work with young people around Scotland; we hope that we can inspire as much passion towards the environment as there is about football."
This initiative further demonstrates CIS commitment to the development of young people and complements the investment that the organisation has made in grassroots football for the past four decades. Alongside its sponsorship of the CIS Insurance Cup, CIS runs an extensive programme of grassroots football initiatives throughout the UK that includes free football coaching for children and the provision of kits and equipment to junior teams.
David Newman, Director of Marketing Management for CIS said: "CIS is delighted to partner with the Woodland Trust (Scotland) and support its Tree For All campaign as part of our sponsorship of the CIS Insurance Cup in Scotland. Projects like Tree For All help demonstrate our commitment to supporting local communities. I hope the children at the schools involved enjoy planting the saplings and, in so doing, learn more about trees and their value to the environment."
Ends
Quick facts:
• If planted in a line the trees would stretch the length of 133 football pitches.
• Thats for 273 trees for every player in the CIS Cup Final.
• 6 football pitches planted full of trees
Editor's notes
CIS is the insurance arm of Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), a group that provides a range of banking, insurance and pension products to more than 6.5 million people across the UK. Our co-operative tradition means that we uphold values of openness, honesty and social inclusion.
CIS is a committed supporter of Scottish football and has been proud sponsor of the Scottish League Cup since 1999. It has just renewed the sponsorship for a further three seasons to 2009. The Scottish League Cup is played between August and March and all 42 Scottish league clubs take part in the tournament. The competition has a straight knock-out one-legged format and the Final will be held at Hampden Park Scotland's national stadium on Sunday 19 March 2006 between Dunfermline Athletic and Celtic. CIS is passionate about football at every level and has a number of grassroots projects in Scotland to demonstrate its commitment to include as many local communities as possible in the CIS Insurance Cup sponsorship.
The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people's understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.
For further information please contact:
Aileen Walters (CIS): 0161 829 5668 / 07798 847564
Rachel Clarke (Four Communications) 0870 066 8733
Jacqui Morris (Woodland Trust Scotland) 01355 578777
Glasgow schools taking part in the tree planting:
• Corpus Christie Primary School
• St Bredans Primary School
• Yoker Primary School
• St Pauls Primary School
• Blairdardie Primary School
• Abercorn Primary School
• Drymen Primary School
• Craighead Primary School
• St Maurices High School
• Blacklaw Primary School
• Nerston Residential School
• Thornwood Primary School
• St Stephen's Primary School
• Balornock Primary School
• St Mungos Primary School
• Carnwadric Primary School
• Balfron High School
• Fintry Primary School
• St Helens Primary School
• Chapelgreen Primary School
• Oxgang Primary School
• Campsie View School
• Kildrum Primary School
• St Bridgets Primary School
• St John The Baptist Primary School
• Uddingston Grammar School
• Abacus Educare Ltd
• Cairns Primary School
• Bankhead Primary School
• Belmont House School
• Kirkhill Primary School
• Parkview Primary School
• Mosshead Primary School
• Kirkintilloch High School
• North Glasgow College
• Boclair Primary School
• Lairdsland Primary School
Dunfermline schools taking part in the tree planting:
• Touch Primary School
• Dalgety Bay Primary School
• Wellwood Primary School
• Cairneythill Primary School
• St Serfs Rc Primary School
• Inzievar Primary School
• Commercial Primary School
• Canmore Primary School
• Townhill Primary School
• Bellyeoman Primary School
• Pittencrieff Primary School
• Culcross Primary School
• Milesmark Primary School
