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In August ‘07 I extended the mortgage on my house and bought a small patch of land near the Darwell Reservoir. It’s in an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB) but despite this it was in a very neglected state. My aims (some already achieved) were to plant about 2 acres of it as new woodland, set aside some for organic herbs for the creams that I make, develop some of it as a wildflower meadow (to support the local bee and butterfly population), and cultivate some. As you can no doubt imagine it is a work in progress!
I feel passionately about protecting and preserving nature and natural habitats for wild plant and animal life. Although I can’t open it to the general public I would like to make it accessible, by arrangement, to like-minded people, people who care about nature and the environment, and those who care for others, either in their profession (therapists, nurses etc) or in their daily lives (carers of sick or disabled relatives and friends etc.) We all need to recharge our batteries, especially those of us who spend the majority of time tending others’ needs. A day spent in nature, in the peace of the countryside, can do a flagging soul a power of good!
In 2007, I pledged to plant 1,000 trees, adding my support to the Billion Tree Campaign that was inspired by the work of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Wangari Mathai (founder of Kenya’s Green Belt Movement). By the end of 2007, UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) aimed to plant, or have plans for planting, one billion trees. Achim Steiner (Executive Director of UNEP) said: “We need action. We need to plant trees... Countering climate change can take root through one billion small but significant acts in our gardens, parks, countryside and rural areas.” Although many millions of trees were pledged the final figure that was actually planted is unknown.
In December 2008 I was given 800 saplings by the Woodland Trust as part of their FREEwoods scheme. After a few manic weeks, through rain, snow and fog, - and, in the words of the Beatles, a little help from my friends - they were all planted. The following year a further 200 were planted, some having been donated by a local Beavers group. I’m proud to have honoured my tree-planting pledge and to have contributed to the success of the campaign, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped and made it possible.
To sign off in the words of Meryem Amar from UNEP:
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