Give it some welly - turn up and dig in!
Sian Lloyd backs new campaign that will plant a tree for every child in the UK, and in Wales
Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust), the UK's leading woodland conservation charity, is launching the country’s biggest ever children’s tree planting campaign today. The campaign, Tree For All, will inspire a new generation of environmental warriors by encouraging youngsters to reconnect with the natural world. Tree For All is giving at least one million children the chance to get to grips with nature and have fun planting trees. The campaign’s vision is that every child should have the chance to plant trees. Twelve million native trees – one for every child under the age of 16 - will be planted over the next five years as part of the campaign.
Here in Wales, Coed Cadw aims to plant 600,000 trees, one for every child under the age of 16, and, more ambitiously, to involve at least 50,000 children in planting them. Over the next five years Tree For All will offer children the opportunity to plant trees across the length and breadth of Wales, but work will start this autumn at Granllyn Pool, near Welshpool, and, hopefully, at Coed Tregib near Llandeilo. Coed Cadw aims to deliver this by working in partnership with a variety of other organisations, including, in Wales, Girlguiding Cymru, the Army Cadets, CPRW, the Tree Council and various local organisations and land owners.
As an additional element of Tree For All in Wales, Coed Cadw will be publishing a Welsh language version of Jean Giono’s timeless classic “The man who planted trees”, in partnership with Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, in the autumn. Though this book has been translated into at least 14 languages, this will be the first time it has ever appeared in Welsh.
Jerry Langford, of Coed Cadw says: “We know that nowadays children are losing touch with nature, in many cases just because they don’t get the chance to go outside, get muddy and enjoy it. Sometimes, our environment is ignored simply due to sheer indifference. Action is needed now to inspire children with a love of nature. Wales is one of the least wooded parts of Europe so every simple act of planting trees can make a difference and help restore our fragile landscapes. The more people who can be enthused with love and respect for the natural world, the greater the hope for the future of the planet.”
Jerry says: “Come on everyone – get involved in Tree For All! Get stuck in and really give it some welly. This is conservation made fun. Keep an eye out for news of public and community planting events in local media and on this website. If you can’t get to an organised tree planting event you can still make a difference by planting a tree at home, at school, in local communities, or you can plant an e-tree online.”
Tree For All has already won support from over 40 celebrities, including actors, authors, pop stars, poets and TV personalities including Sian Lloyd. Sian says: “Tree For All will show that with a little help, children in Wales can help to restore our landscape for the better. What a wonderful way to inspire children to understand the importance of caring about nature in a world where its future is under threat from climate change. One individual act of planting a tree, multiplied thousands of times, paints a marvellous picture of collective action to care about the world we all share. Tree For All, it's great news for Wales so come on everybody, go out and “give it some welly!”
For more information about how to get involved, and get ready for Tree For All weekend that runs from the 18th-23rd November, visit this website or call 0845 108 1428 (calls charged at local rate).
For media enquiries contact:
Rory Francis (Publicity and Public Affairs Officer for Wales) on 01766 832563 or 07760 171174
Afallon, Tanygrisiau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd LL41 3RH
Email roryfrancis@woodland-trust.org.uk
or The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail media@woodland-trust.org.uk
Media images
Notes to editors:
Coed Cadw (The Woodland Trust)
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 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 awareness 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). These include 129 sites in Wales, with a total area of 1,580 hectares (3,900 acres). It offers free public access to nearly all of its sites. Further news can be accessed via www.woodland-trust.org.uk. The Trust adopted a new Welsh language name in 2000: “Coed Cadw”. This is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.
Girlguiding Cymru
Girlguiding Cymru belong to the largest worldwide youth organisation for girls and young members and have a membership of just under 23,000 in Wales. Girlguiding UK, as part of a worldwide Movement, enables girls and young women to fulfil their potential to take an active and responsible role in society through its distinctive, stimulating and enjoyable programme of activities, delivered by trained volunteer leaders. The vision of Girlguiding UK is to have sufficient adult volunteer leaders to enable every girl and young woman to have the opportunity to join Girlguiding UK.
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) is a charity which aims to secure the protection and improvement of the rural landscape, environment and the amenities of towns and villages in Wales, whilst recognising the importance of its indigenous cultures. Deb Wozencraft, CPRW’s liaison officer says: “CPRW is delighted to part of this campaign, it will inspire a new generation to take an interest in their local countryside and will also offer an opportunity for others to re-connect with their local environment..”
The Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a national youth organisation sponsored by the Army throughout the UK. It provides the opportunity to engage in challenging military, adventurous, sporting and community activities within a structured environment. Its aim is to inspire young people to achieve success in life with a spirit of service and to develop in them the qualities required of a good citizen. Organised on a county or joint county basis, its current strength in Wales is approximately 3,000 cadets led by 450 officers and Adult Instructors. Following a successful partnership with the Woodland Trust at the time of the Millennium when the Army Cadet Force played a significant part in establishing woodland throughout Wales, a further partnership has been established to engage in the Tree for All Campaign and on this occasion cadets from both the Sea Cadet Corps and the Air Training Corps will also be participating.
