Guides make a difference to the environment with tree initiative

GUIDES in East Leake have been wondering how they could help the environment, in their own small way and so, when news of a local initiative reached them, it seemed the perfect fit

Wendy Thompson, leader at the Second East Leake Guides Unit and tree warden said: “When a fellow guide leader mentioned that we could apply to the Woodland Trust for community trees for our group, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to bring guiding and the community together and to teach the younger generation about the difference trees can make to both the environment and the community.’

Environmentalism is a core tenet of the modern Girl Guides. From reusing materials, learning about how to be a conscientious global citizen and getting involved in the local community, it was a natural fit.

“Trees are important because they photosynthesise which produces oxygen which we breathe,” wrote Freya, one of the guides, when creating a poster about the importance of woodland.

“If we didn’t have leaves we would be dead! Leaves also make our trees look even prettier and provide our community with colour.”

With trees supplied by the Woodland Trust, support from the parish council and the East Leake Tree Wardens, and a good surge of manual labour from the girl guides and the wider village community, the guides planted 200 new trees in East Leake, that they hope will grow into a wonderful part of the village that will be with us for many generations.