I was set a very good example by my lovely Dad when it comes to planting trees and saving the planet. Before I was born, my family moved into a newly built house with virgin garden. Dad decided to plant three poplar trees at the far end of the garden to screen off the other houses. Poplars grow extremely tall, they are also protected by law. The result is that the trees Dad planted are still in situ and are now highly visible from the main road. Well done Dad!
While studying for my BA in Writing English for Business in 2010, I hit a pitfall. I had to create a project around a business issue. Because I worked for a government department at the time, I was unable to carry this out. During this time, I went to Wyre Estuary Country Park to help with The Big Garden Bird Watch. After the event, I was speaking to the Head Ranger, who told me that the park had ambitions to plant a thousand trees on the drumlin. We discussed the fact that they only wanted to plant native British trees.
I immediately offered to help with the campaign to raise sufficient funds. I set to work to research the four native trees as well as the method by which trees improve the quality of the water table. They had chosen Rowan (Mountain Ash), Sessile Oak, Ash and Silver Birch. I designed and built a website for the project and a really informative poster and flyer.
After submission, along with my dissertation, I was given a First Class BA(Hons) but was also given an award for the project. Naturally, I was delighted but even more so when I was told that Doreen Lofthouse, a local entrepreneur, had seen the website and pledged the funding for one thousand trees. I am so proud when I go to the park and walk down the drumlin among those trees. Now established for twelve years they have completely changed the park landscape.
.jpg)
Ode to a Tree
I bathe in your shadow,
striped by filtered light.
the gentle breeze bending
as it curves around us.
A strange couple,
me just seven and a half.,
you more than a century.
What knowledge
passed from one to the other?
A child and a tree.
Thanks for reading. Adele
9 comments:
I like the poem. Is that you in the photograph? (If so, how lovely.)
Well done. The idea of bathing in shadow is an arresting one.
The best knowledge a tree can impart is how to stay rooted :)
Your intriguing 'Ode to a Tree' captures a lovely moment. I liked the idea of the strange couple.
Good for your Dad. The country need new trees. We are still losing hundreds of thousands to various diseases each year.
Very interesting Adele. I didn't know about the law protecting poplars in the UK. I did some quick research and the Black (or Lombardy) Poplar is definitely on the protected list but I'm not so sure about the Grey and White varieties. But as far as I'm concerned no tree should be felled without due consideration. I hope you'll help me select something appropriate to plant in my garden next Spring. I liked your poem very much (though I'd spotted that it's not you in the photograph).😃
Congratulations for assisting with a large-scale tree planting project. They are vital undertakings. I liked your poem and photograph as well. Please note it is sessile oak (meaning the acorns have no stalk), though sensile would be an interesting concept.
Well done Adele with your imput on trees.An interesting blog and poem
Congratulations on the planting, the campaign and the degree.
Lovely article and poem
Post a Comment