Forests of Fame
Stars come down to earth to plant "Forest of Fame" on behalf of the Earth Restoration Service
Joanna Lumley said: "In many parts of the world forest restoration can be a stark choice between life and death. Urgent action is required, and I believe the work being done by Earth Restoration Service and their network of projects is of vital importance at this time. The tree I'm planting today is a symbol of my support for restoring the earth, and an invitation to others to help us." Joanna Lumley planted a tree at Green Park before attending a lunch held by ERS at the House of Lords hosted by Lord Walton of Detchant.
Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "By planting more of the right trees in the right place, we can make London a more attractive city and help the capital cope with the effects of a changing climate. This is an excellent project that encourages towns and cities across the world to plant trees to help tackle climate change and I wish Earth Restoration Service the best of luck in progressing it."
Thomas A. Becket Middle School planting 800 trees!
What an inspiration! The Thomas A. Becket Middle School in Worthing planted out a tree nursery containing 800 trees between 5-10 December 2007. Each child has labelled their own tree, adding their name around the saplings. This programme has been managed by Polly Wise from the school - she says the programme has really motivated parents, teachers, children, the mayor of Worthing and the local MP! Now we will wait for Spring to watch the trees sparkle. These native trees will be planted out to regenerate and benefit the local environment in and around Worthing.
School Tree Nurseries - positive news from Ecuador
This past month, the Tree Nursery School children have had an introductory course to one of the earth’s elements: soil. Together, they established a compost box, and started learning basic information concerning nutrients, after which they were initiated to the soil test. In the nursery, there are over three hundred seedlings, of Caoba, Pachaco, Guanabana and Papaya, and they are still waiting for the coffee seeds. Furthermore, they were able to plant Aguacatillo seeds, a native hard-wood tree! More information on our Ecuadorian programme
here
Helping Hands Restore the Earth
Getting our hands dirty to help the Earth is just what nature needs, according to children at Ysgol y Dderi in Llangybi, Ceredigion. Two years ago, the enthusiastic wildlife-loving pupils collected local seed and raised them in the school’s garden nursery. This March, their project took the next step when they planted the young saplings in the grounds with all the tender loving care of new parents. They also plan to donate some of their ‘offspring’ to a local community woodland project.
Deputy Head, Mrs Mary Davies said:
"The children really enjoyed planting the trees, which they can watch grow every year. Having grown them from seeds, this is the next stage in creating a woodland environment for outdoor activities and the enjoyment of the local community. We are particularly grateful to Angie Polkey, of the Earth Restoration Service (ERS), who provided guidance and materials to protect the trees."
The ERS sponsors tree planting by schools around the world, so that children can gain practical environmental education by planting seedlings and helping to maintain a tree nursery. Year 4 pupil, Rhiannon Newitt, described her experience:
“First we had to make a big hole. Then we chose our tree and put it in. We put the soil back, put a cane in and wrapped a tree guard around. Then we put a mat around the tree to help store water and keep the grass from growing while the tree’s a baby. I enjoyed it a lot because it was really fun and you learn more about nature.”
The children’s efforts also contribute to a worldwide tree planting campaign by the United Nations Environment Programme, which aims to engage people everywhere in the issue of climate change by planting at least one billion trees.
Greening the desert in Jordan - Geoff Lawton. Within four months they had figs in the most arid region in the world - two kilometers from the Dead Sea. Watch the film and get inspired!
20 March 2007 - New life in the Sahel
Waste land turns into forest - natural regeneration of village forests in rural West Africa - Burkina Faso and Benin.
A hundred years ago, the Sahel was covered with a lush and bushy savanna. The widespread use of bushfire to make place for cotton and peanut plantations has devastated the ground. It still rains enough for the indigenous plants to survive, 600 mm yearly, and buried in the soil, numerous seeds and roots are hoping for better days. ERS is partnering with an organisation called Newtree -
More here!
'Save a Tree, Save our Lungs' - Children From Around the World Lend Their Voice for the Protection of Forests Nairobi/Putrajaya 27 August 2006 — A project to restore native species of trees to their natural habitat in Colombia, a 'sacred forest' that highlights the healing qualities of trees and their role in community rituals in South Africa, a scheme to save damaged trees on a street in South Korea, are among environmental projects presented by children at this year’s United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Tunza International Children’s Conference for the Environment, which opened today in Putrajaya, Malaysia, with the theme ‘Save a Tree, Save our Lungs’. More click here
