WHY ARE WE PLANTING TREES?
The WI is not just about making really yummy cakes and being clever with needle and thread; it is also about lobbying the Government on issues that matter to their members. These issues are called resolutions and unsurprisingly one of the latest is about climate change “…The NFWI … calls on the Government at both national and local levels to make a strenuous effort (and legislate where necessary) to increase the number of trees planted”.
In the UK, forests cover just 13% of the total land area, compared with the European average of 38%. The Woodland Trust has warned that poor planting rates, woodland losses and weak protection of ancient woods mean that in England we are highly likely to be in a state of net deforestation. Data obtained by The Sunday Times shows that in the last three years councils have cut down more than 110,000 trees across the UK. In its 25-year plan to improve the environment, the government stressed the importance of planting more trees.
Jean Harding, the Federation Chair challenged every WI to plant a tree not just in support of this important resolution but also in celebration of the coming Federation Centenary in 2020. That’s exactly what happened on a wonderfully sunny and bright Sunday morning when Norley WI-members and non-members assembled to applaud and celebrate the planting of a new tree at the WI Memorial Garden in Post Office Lane.
Members of Norley Wildlife Group, in particular Phil Gifford, assisted in choosing the tree (a Wild Service Tree, not commonly found in this part of
Cheshire but which should grow well here) and preparing the ground for the final planting. A lot of praise has to go to Norley’s WI President Margaret Soutar, who nurtured and looked after it for many months; constantly worrying that it might die before it even reached it’s final destination.
The ceremony was rounded off with lots of yummy cakes at the Village Hall.
Claudia Wild – Norley WI