More trees planted over the festive season
The Festive break certainly didn’t see a break in our tree planting project, with several alumnae opting for a festive planting across Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.
Closing the year on a hopeful green note, Boxing Day saw our former Roll President, Jo Burch (NC 1983) planting a cherry grove at her home near Saffron Walden of ornamental and eating cherries to celebrate Newnham friendships and the love of her family.
Jo will be planting a small apple and pear orchard at the entrance to her wildflower meadow where local primary schools come to do their Forest School sessions. They’ll be able to watch the trees grow, spot pollinating insects and birds enjoying the fruit, and then harvest any remaining fruit for their snacks and wild cooking.
Mary-Grace Browning nee Feachem (NC 1963) planted a Sorbus Commixta Olympic Flame on Christmas Eve – one for Newnham’s 150th Anniversary and the other for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. See her right, planting the tree with help from Bula the dog.
Shameem Sangha (NC 1996) also planted a tree saying, “It felt wonderful to be part of celebrating Newnham’s 150 years by doing something long-term and positive for the environment to mark the occasion! I chose this particular tree because it will stand out in our garden with its beautiful, distinctive red bark – bringing to mind Newnham’s gorgeous red brick. This tree is something gorgeous and unique in our garden – which is rather how I think of our beloved Newnham College’s place within Cambridge University.”
Glenis Scadding (NC 1966) has been planting native trees on her farm in Camarthenshire, Wales over the last few months and hopes to plant more in the early 2022. She recently ran a COP 26 Poster competition for the London borough of Brent schools on behalf of Brent Friends of the Earth. The 4 winners (3 individuals, 1 whole nursery class) will receive a tree to plant in their school grounds. They have chosen a red oak, and apple, cherry and plum trees.
The Brent schools are:
Convent of Jesus and Mary Infant School (red oak),
St Mary Magdalene Junior School (pear),
John Keble Church of England Primary School (cherry),
Phoenix Arch School (apple).
Find out more and see these trees on our interactive tree map here.