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| Right to left at Buckingham Palace Executive Director Alan Watson Featherstone; Trees for Life patron Gordon Buchanan, Rosalind Grant-Robertson, who generously supported Trees for Life’s purchase of Dundreggan; Steve Morris, Operations Manager for Dundreggan |
Trees for Life’s creation of a Diamond Wood in Inverness-shire to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 has been recognised at a Buckingham Palace reception this week (27 March), hosted by HRH The Princess Royal.
The event recognised the creation of 60 new Diamond Woods across the UK, each at least 60 acres in size, to symbolise the Queen’s 60-year reign. As part of this tree planting campaign, Trees for Life planted a new 60-acre Jubilee woodland of native trees at its Dundreggan Estate, to the west of Loch Ness in Glen Moriston.
Two million trees have been planted across Scotland in a range of locations during this project, which was organised by The Woodland Trust. Princess Anne planted the Jubilee Woods project’s six millionth tree in London yesterday.
Alan Watson Featherstone, Trees for Life’s Executive Director, said: “As part of a renewed Caledonian Forest in the Highlands, our Diamond Wood at Dundreggan is truly positive tribute to Her Majesty The Queen – one that will be enjoyed by future generations and will provide an important habitat for wildlife. The Jubilee Woods project is an inspiring example of how people can come together and make a real difference to our environment, and we’re proud to have been involved.”
Trees for Life was represented at Buckingham Palace by its Executive Director Alan Watson Featherstone; acclaimed wildlife cameraman and filmmaker Gordon Buchanan, who recently became a patron for the charity; Rosalind Grant-Robertson, who generously supported Trees for Life’s purchase of Dundreggan; and Steve Morris, Operations Manager for Dundreggan.
The conservation charity’s work at Dundreggan is part of its award-winning restoration of Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Forest to a spectacular wilderness region of 1,000 square miles to the west of Loch Ness and Inverness. Although only a fraction of the original forest survives, Trees for Life has now created almost 10,000 acres of new Caledonian Forest at 45 different locations in the Highlands. It has planted more than one million trees, with a million more pledged for the next five years.
People can support Trees for Life’s work by purchasing dedicated trees to celebrate special occasions. The charity’s acclaimed volunteer Conservation Weeks and Conservation Days offer opportunities to gain practical conservation experience in spectacular surroundings. For details, see www.treesforlife.org.uk or call 0845 458 3505.
