Tree by tree

One of the things that has struck me during my time as Mayor - is just how many people freely give their time to helping make Buckingham an even better place to live, work, study, play and visit. Last weekend was a prime example when a bunch of town councillors & officers, members of the local Rotary Club and several others came together to plant a small copse up at the Lace Hill playing fields.

As the Town Council's press release said:

Thank you to the impressive 20 volunteers from the local community came along to the Town Council’s Tree Planting Day on Sunday February 2019 at Lace Hill Football Pitches. Volunteers included Buckingham Rotary Club, Buckingham’s Tree Wardens and Town Council staff and Councillors. With plenty of people turning up to lend a hand and lighten the workload, it was a successful and cheerful day of planting.

Volunteers helped to plant 280 saplings to improve the appearance of this green space and slow the wind down through a mosaic of predominantly broadleaved trees. The saplings were secured from Cole’s Nurseries through generous donation from Buckingham’s Rotary Club to create a native shelterbelt around the pitch and will help to improve biodiversity in the area.

Councillor Margaret Gateley, who also joined in the event, said “It was great to work alongside various community groups on a glorious sunny morning. I look forward to going back in a few months to see how the trees are coming along. Our Estates Team will be keeping an expert eye on them in the meantime.”

It felt really good to be a part of this team. At the end we could all look back on all the planted saplings and think "I helped make that happen!"

So again I say: thanks to all the volunteers last week - and all the volunteers in the town - who are working hard and generously for the benefit of our community.