Tag: James Watt Bicentennial celebration

our wonderful group of volunteers

‘We’re Going to Save The World – One Tree at A Time!’

On the first day of National Tree week BTfL got off to a wonderful start with the help of some amazing volunteers! Handsworth Park was the place, planting trees to mark the, James Watt Bicentennial Celebrations and National Tree Week were the occasions.

What started out as a dank and dreary morning soon turned into a wonderful community celebration of trees and togetherness, a common cause, a progressive dynamic when 42 volunteers arrived, including nine children to support this very special planting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a safety and tree planting talk with Simon Needle, Principal Arboriculturalist, at Birmingham City Council the volunteers were eager to grab a spade and find their X-marks the spot – even the nine excited children who were looking forward to playing in the mud and finding worms!

 

     

We were planting 10 standard Hazel and Walnut trees, both a wonderful food source for birds and Small animals. Digging deep it was hard work, but no one even stopped mid planting for a cuppa. Everyone was super eager to get these wonderful trees in the ground and add to the beauty and biodiversity of Handsworth Park.

As well as the local-residents taking pride in their park, other volunteers had come from much further afield to plant trees. One lady from Kidderminster proudly told us while digging a hole, ‘I came, because trees are so important and we have to save the planet one tree at a time’

‘Here, here,’ we applauded.

There was a determined stance from some of the younger planters too.  Angad, 12, said, ‘I told my mum, it’s your generation that has spoilt the planet, it’s time we started putting it right, that’s why we are here to plant trees, to do something positive.’

We are never surprise and always delighted at the younger generation’s determination to make their planet healthy again.

There were 10-members form Green Welfare who came from all over the country to help plant trees. Getting stuck in immediately there was a real sense of pride at digging down and securing the trees in the ground.

 

Then there was Matty, here with his Mum and his two sisters, Matty, a toddler became the cutest measuring stick of all. When Matty stood in the hole and the hole came up to his waist we knew the hole was just deep enough to plant the tree!

Digging down Matty’s mum placed Matty in the hole, not quite deep enough, more digging and she tried again, still not quite deep enough.

Third time lucky Matty’s mum held Matty in the hole again, it was the perfect depth! There was applause and cheers and some laughter as Matty’s mum and lifted Matty out of the hole.

Who says a toddler can’t plant trees too – not us!

  Matty’s mum said. ‘We’ve never planted a tree publically before, but we came because we use this park a lot. It’s good to be part of something good and it will be lovely to watch these trees grow.’

All morning there was a distinct sound of spades cutting through earth, tree stakes being hammered into the ground as well as chatter and laughter all morning between volunteers. 42 strangers together like they had known each other forever.

That’s the thing about doing something for the common good, it brings people together, it makes us happier, we feel empowered, proud and like a team.

We’re not just planting trees to save our environment and make the park look even more beautiful. We are investing in each other, by celebrating our common goals out in the fresh air, enjoying exercise, and everything Birmingham’s beautiful green spaces offers.

Every tree planted that day is testament to National Tree Week and a legacy to everyone who stuck a spade in the ground to plant a tree. A legacy that will last the lifespan of these trees, that’s 80 to 100-years!

Something these volunteers can show and tell their children and their grandchildren.

What a fantastic prospect!

Please click here to see more photos of this event