Hundreds turn out to see flagship woodland site unveiled
Hundreds of young cadets, guests and staff commemorated Trafalgar Day in style with the launch of a new 141-hectare (350-acre) woodland in Kent.
The site has been named Victory Wood and was unveiled by The Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It is at a spectacular, elevated spot at Lamberhurst Farm, Dargate, near Canterbury, where it overlooks the sea, the Isle of Sheppey and is near the mouth of the River Medway. Victory Wood is one of 33 new woods being created across the UK to mark the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.
The launch was led by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Allan Willett, who planted the first tree at the site, followed by Woodland Trust president Clive Anderson, Trafalgar Woods patron the Admiral Lord Boyce OBE and Lady Mountbatten.
Mr Willett paid tribute to the Trust for its ambitious Trafalgar Woods project.
He said: “Two hundred years on, the Woodland Trust is to be commended for embarking on this great Trafalgar Woods project. Instead of a stone edifice they are providing a living memorial to Nelson, his brave sailors and his hearts of oak - the ships that won at Trafalgar and kept our nation free.
“Victory Wood will be a place of memories, but also a symbol of renewal and continuity – and of our determination to do what is best for our environment. On behalf of the people of Kent I voice our heartfelt thanks to the Woodland Trust.”
The Trust found the site during the summer of 2004 after a long search and it is hoped Victory Wood will become a lasting tribute to the thousands of seamen who died defending the country. It will also create a natural link to Kent’s nationally-renowned 3,000-hectare (7,500-acre) Blean Woods complex, which was part designated as a National Nature Reserve in 2001 and is of enormous national significance having been wooded for more than 1,000 years.
The Trafalgar Woods project is part of the Trust’s Tree For All campaign. It also provides a range of online educational resources to support schools planting a hedge or copse in their school grounds. Community groups can also organise their own events and register them with the Woodland Trust. For more information see this website.
Notes to editors:
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121,
email: media@woodland-trust.org.uk
Images of the event are available at:
http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/news/trafalgar/
Tree For All: The Woodland Trust believes its Tree For All campaign will inspire parents and children to get outdoors more and get closer to nature by starting with the simple and enjoyable act of tree planting. Tree For All will see 12 million trees planted throughout the UK over five years, that’s one tree planted for every child under 16. One million children will be involved in planting through schools and community groups, at public events and even in their own garden. Trafalgar Woods is part of the Tree for All campaign.
Sea Britain 2005: The Trafalgar Woods project is part of Sea Britain 2005, a year-long programme of events and activities to celebrate our maritime heritage. For more information visit www.seabritain2005.com
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). Access to its sites is free. Further news can be found via this website.
21 October 2005
