PHOTO / INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY:
1.30pm: Children from Dunholme Primary School will each plant a sapling.
2.30pm: Dedication as Mrs Monk plants her oak tree in the Memorial Garden.
A generous gift of £170,000 from the gift aid programme of Waste Recycling Environmental Ltd (WREN) has enabled the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and Nettleham Woodland Trust to create a new nature reserve near Dunholme. By purchasing fields adjacent to the existing Pickering’s Meadow and Watts Wood reserves, the much larger Ashing Lane Nature Reserve has been formed. Over time, the fields will be transformed into flower-rich meadows and broadleaved woodland to the benefit of wildlife and local people.
On Thursday 26 February, Mrs Monk will plant a memorial tree and officially name the woodland area “Monks Wood” in memory of her late husband Dennis Monk who served as Chairman on the Lincolnshire Panel of WREN for 10 years. Local school children are also helping with the tree planting. The trees being planted on 26 February are amongst the first of the new trees at Ashing Lane nature reserve. Over two years, 20,000 trees will be planted making it the largest tree planting scheme by a local group in Lincolnshire.
Paul Learoyd, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust chief executive said "The Trust is delighted to play a role in a partnership with a supportive and environmentally aware funder, WREN, and an active group of local individuals, Nettleham Woodland Trust, as we strive to create a special place for people and wildlife. The site will not be transformed overnight, some of the changes will take several years to start to show a real effect, but people can play their part right now by getting involved."
Chris Williams from the Nettleham Woodland Trust added, "We are delighted to have the support of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, WREN, the Lindum Group and others. We would like to underline the great enthusiasm and immense practical assistance being provided by local landowner Charles Pickering, Sylvia Watts and their family in enabling us to reach this point. People are excited by the prospect of new woodland for many reasons – recreation and relaxation, wildlife and biodiversity, and combating climate change. Others think of the woodlands of the past, and their mystery and mythology. There is something here for everyone."
John Winslow, Senior Project Manager for WREN, said: "WREN is very pleased to be contributing to this project not only as a major tree planting scheme for Lincolnshire but also as notable memorial to one of our founder volunteer members, Mr Dennis Monk. Dennis was amongst the very first people to join WREN's local advisory panels and as Chairman for Lincolnshire he was able to help and guided WREN on the many projects considered for funding. The wood at Ashing Lane will be a fitting tribute to all those how help and support our work on the environment."
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