90 Trees marking The HH The Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday
Roots of Arran Community Woodland volunteers will be planting an additional 90 trees this winter in the woodland. Passla Gautier, who was born in Tibet and lives on Arran with her family, wants to provide 90 trees for the volunteers to plant up. She asked the group if they could find space for the trees in the woodland, with the number 90 marking the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama which was celebrated globally on 6th July this year.
R0A Treasurer, Juliette Walsh, said the committee was delighted with the offer and will run two tree planting days this winter and protect the young trees with vole guards. They regularly plant species which contribute biodiversity to Arran’s natural landscape, such as hazel, rowan and Arran whitebeam and the 20-year-old woodland is now teaming with wildlife.
Passla is a Roots of Arran volunteer and helped this year with early spring tree planting. She had the idea of donating 90 trees to Roots of Arran saying, ‘Even back in the eighties, the Dalai Lama was an environmental champion and was concerned about deforestation in Tibet. Globally we share his vision of a nature rich harmonious world for all sentient beings’.
You can visit the woodland from the view point car park between Brodick and Lamlash. Passla is encouraging anyone to donate money for a tree to be planted in the woodland. Funds raised will go directly to the Office of Tibet in India for patients needing medical treatment in India.
Here is the Go Fund Me link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/90-trees-marking-the-hh-the-dali-lamas-90th-birthday
The target of £1,100 has nearly been reached, and with a few more donations this lovely initiative will be ready to go ahead!
For updates and information on tree planting dates this winter see the Roots of Arran website
Roots of Arran Community Woodland was formed in 2002 and volunteers have over the years planted up this large clear-fell site known as Fairy Glen or Lag a Bheith, with many young trees which include birch, rowan, beech, hazel, willow, oak, alder, blackthorn, Scots pine and even fruit trees in an enclosed orchard area. This is in order to regenerate the woodland for locals and visitors to enjoy and increase the island’s biodiversity.