Contact Details:
team@syforest.co.uk
0114 2571199
South Yorkshire Forest Partnership
4 Park Square
Newton Chambers Road
Sheffield
S35 2PH
25/02/08 Tree-mendous turn out at Beighton Tip planting day
The transformation of Beighton Tip into Linley Bank Meadows was given a tree-mendous boost this weekend as over a hundred people braved the weather to plant around 500 native woodland trees on the landfill site.
The trees - a mix of oak, silver birch, alder and rowan, were sponsored by members of the community through the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership's (SYF) Gift that Grows scheme. Kerry Bennett, Community Projects Officer for the SYF explained why so many people wanted to support the scheme: "Tree planting is a practical, time-honoured ritual that evokes hope and growth and touches people on all sorts of levels. The people who get involved in the Gift that Grows share a love of trees and all want to make a difference to their local environment, but they are also motivated by all sorts of personal reasons - this weekend we had a group from Sheffield Macular Disease Society Support Group planting trees as a memorial to founder member Cyril Johnson, we also had young couples planting to celebrate a new baby, and several older couples marking special wedding anniversaries! These are the things that make this sort of activity a truly community-centred event."
Support for the tree planting event also came from local businesses keen to demonstrate a commitment to the local environment and community; a team from Novotel Sheffield led by Business Development Manager Karen Coy, were first on site, itching to plant the 100 trees they had sponsored. Karen revealed why they had chosen to take part in the event; "Novotel Sheffield Centre is part of the Accor group which is committed to taking an active part in community and environmental activities. The South Yorkshire Forest scheme provided the ideal opportunity to combine these interests in a local and hands-on way."
Trees for the final phase of planting on the site were also provided by Sheffield environmental consultancy ECUS, Greenfields Design and Freedom Software. Next year the Sheffield City Council tip will formally become Linley Bank Meadows - a publicly accessible green space linking into the Shire Brook Nature Corridor - and all those who have contributed trees will be able to visit with pride as they watch their forest grow.
For more information about tree sponsorship in South Yorkshire contact South Yorkshire Forest Partnership on 0114 257 1199 or visit www.syforest.co.uk/gift.