Transglobal tree-planting

An ambitious inter-continental community link-up will result in a simultaneous tree planting event in Wales and Africa.

The synchronised creation of woodland in Carmarthenshire and Kenya will take place at the National Botanic Garden of Wales and on the slopes of Mount Kenya on Sunday November 25.

The global link has been forged by the Wales-based rainforest charity Size of Wales and the Greenbelt Movement, and will ensure a tree-planting event with a difference.

The Carmarthenshire event will create a new ‘Diamond Wood’ as part of the Woodland Trust’s Jubilee Woods project, which aims to plant six million trees across the UK to mark the Diamond Jubilee. The new wood at the National Botanic Garden will be one of only three of its kind in Wales and will be called Clearbrook Wood.

The National Botanic Garden’s curator, Simon Goodenough is urging people to come and help with the planting. He said: “Admission to the Garden on the 25th is FREE for all and planting is between 11am and 1pm, so we have our work cut out because there are 22,000 trees to plant.”

The National Botanic Garden and the Woodland Trust are partners of Size of Wales, which is working to help protect an area of tropical forests the same size as our country. Size of Wales has teamed up with the Woodland Trust to match tree planting done in Wales with tree planting in Africa.

Any community or school in Wales that is planting a free Woodland Trust tree pack this winter can contact Size of Wales and get their Welsh Trees matched tree for tree in Africa.

Simon added: “A rich mosaic of native species will be planted here at the Garden including birch, poplar, alder, willow and oak. A celebratory oak, raised from an acorn from Sandringham, will be a special commemoration of the Queen’s Jubilee.”

All those interested in helping are asked to wear suitable ‘outdoorsy’ clothes and bring a spade.

The Community Planting Day on Sunday November 25th will be followed by a week of planting by local schoolchildren.

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.

Size of Wales aims to bring everyone in Wales together to help sustain an area of tropical forest the size of Wales as part of a national response to climate change.

The Greenbelt Movement is an environmental organisation empowering communities, particularly women, to conserve the environment and improve livelihoods.

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is open from 10am until 4.30pm. For more information on Garden news and events, go to www.gardenofwales.org.uk email info@gardenofwales.org.uk or call 01558 667149.