RAF Air Cadets plant 70 trees for the Jubilee!
Braintree Recreation Ground, Saturday 28th May 2022
On Saturday 28th May 2022 we were honoured to host 158 (Braintree & District) Squadron RAF Air Cadets who participated in their annual Squadron Field Day on the Braintree Rec. The cadets were given an area on our new nature area to plant some new saplings they applied for, looked after and have now planted themselves. They expertly planted 70 trees in total, all in aid of the Queens Green Canopy and in celebration of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee!
We have been working extremely hard in collaboration with the Air Cadets over the last 3 months, providing training for them on how to plant trees and the associated theoretical knowledge. With a series of 9 presentations which included but not exclusive to several subject areas such as why we plant trees, how to actually plant them, biology of trees as well the aftercare these trees need. In addition to the knowledge secured during this training, the cadets also fundraised in excess of £260 to buy the equipment needed to plant and maintain the trees, each cadet chose how they were going to raise money, this included a cadet shaving his head, sponsored runs and car washing.
The 20 cadets who took part in the event planted 70 saplings which included Silver Birch, Wild Cherry, Rowan and even a couple of small Acorn trees, which have been an extremely welcome addition to our constantly evolving nature area. The cadets were also welcomed and assisted by our local MP The Rt Hon James Cleverly, who talked to them all about what this project meant to them, as well as actually planting a tree himself, with the assistance of a few cadets.
The 158 Squadron Training Officer, CI Dan Dedman, has described to us his thoughts on the project:
“Our whole staff team at the Braintree Air Cadets are extremely proud of the work our cadets have done to make this project a complete success. At the start of the year our cadets mentioned to us the importance of having a green footprint is to them, and with the Platinum Jubilee happening this year, we thought this would be a fantastic project to set up for our cadets. This also provided us an opportunity to have STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) focused training programme, something our cadets will substantially benefit from academically. They’ve learnt skills which they can use for life but with the completion of the tree planting project, it doesn’t just stop there for the cadets. We will continue to work with the Braintree Recreation CIO to give our cadets volunteering opportunities to maintain & water the trees they’ve planted, which can be used towards their volunteering section of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards. We thank all the cadets for their hard work, and also the opportunity the Braintree Recreation Ground has given us too, we look forward to working with them in the future.”
The tree planting wasn’t the only green focused project they completed on the 28th May. You may notice at the top of our new nature area the cadets have utilised some wooden pallets and some cuttings of our trees to create 3 large insect hotels, so when you walk past, check them out!
The nature area will remain to be cordoned off for these trees to take to the ground, to give them the best possible chance of survival.
