SCOUTS FOR TREES
One hundred Groves created
The remote island of Eilean Shona, situated off the West Cost of Scotland, was host to a group of Network Scouts from Bishopton and the Woodland Trust Scotland this weekend as they planted trees to create the 100th and final centenary grove, marking 100 years of the Scouting Association.
The planting marks the end of an 18 month initiative between the Woodland Trust and The Scouts. The partnership, launched by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2006 at Fordell Firs Fife, created 100 centenary groves across the UK to mark 100 years of the Scouting Association.
The joint venture is part of the Woodland Trust’s Tree for All campaign. The biggest ever children’s tree planting operation, which aims to involve 1 million children in planting 12 million trees across the UK. The equivalent to one tree for every child under the age of 16.
Rebecca Whitley said “I can’t think of a more stunning location to create a centenary grove than Eilean Shona, with its magnificent woodlands, wild open hills and beautiful white sandy beach. The tree planting event may have marked the end of the Scouting for Trees project, but it is the first time the Trust has had to sail to a tree planting event. It has been a truly fantastic way to end the project. We would like to thank Robert Devereux for making the weekend possible.” She added, “Scouts for Trees has proved to be a great opportunity to get involved with a UK wide organisation and help us reach out to more and more young people. “
Eleanor Lyle MBE, Scout Commissioner said “Caring and learning about the environment, and having the chance to enjoy the great outdoors has been an important part of Scouting since the very first camp back in 1907. Scouting today lets young people get involved in lots of ways, ranging from getting involved in community projects such as tree planting to improve the local environment, to learning about the world around them, to enjoying traditional Scouting activities like camping. Our parnership with the Woodland Trust will leave a fitting legacy for the future.”
end
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact: Jacqui Morris on 01355 578777 or mobile 07979 706675 or The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust: 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).
In 1984, the Trust acquired its first wood in Scotland. Today the Trust owns 80 sites across Scotland covering 8,500 hectares. Further news can be accessed via www.woodland-trust.org.uk
Eilean Shona; Eilean Shona is a privately owned island of some 2,000 acreas at the entrance to Loch Moidard, just off the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Its landscape is varied from its Eastern side of many and rare and magnificent trees to its wild, rugged western side. JM Barrie wrote of the island “We have mountains and boats and tennis and billiards and most of the western islands of Scotland lying at our feet”
