First Minister, Rhodri Morgan began the creation of a new woodland near Tredegar today Friday, March 27 when he planted the first tree at the latest site for the Welsh Assembly Government's innovative Plant! project.
Today, Mr Morgan visited Caerphilly Council-owned Parc Bryn Bach, Tredegar, which he re-named Coed Bryn Oer to mark its transformation into the third Plant! site.
The project, which will help to create a Welsh National Forest of native trees, was launched in December 2007 and aims to plant a tree for every new baby and adopted child in Wales from 1 January, 2008.
Parents will receive a certificate stating that their tree has been planted for them, thereby forging a strong link between children and their environment.
Already, 35,000 mixed native broadleaf trees have been planted at the first Plant! site at Cefn Ila, near Usk, and nearly 9,000 certificates have been issued for the second site at Ysgybor Wen, Llanegryn, near Tywyn, which was launched last month by Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones.
The First Minister said it was fitting that the new woodland should be created on the same day as the launch of the Administration’s revised strategy for trees and woodlands, Woodlands for Wales, was being launched in Carreg Cennen, near Llandeilo, by Ms Jones.
Mr Morgan said:
The woodland strategy emphasises the need for woodlands to serve local needs for health, education, and jobs and to give people a lifelong attachment to their woodlands. For children especially, giving them a personal stake in local woodlands by actually being involved in tree planting in this way, is a huge commitment to sustainable Wales.
The strategy also advocates the creation of sensitively planned new native woodland which can make a positive contribution to biodiversity, landscape and heritage and focuses on the role tree planting can play in helping to cope with climate change by reducing our carbon footprint.
By creating this symbolic bond between children and woodlands, the Plant! scheme makes a valuable contribution to the aims of the woodland strategy which will hopefully mean we can leave a more positive legacy for future generations.
Related Links
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/forestry/plantatree/?lang=en
http://wales.gov.uk/news/newsletter/?lang=en