Swans help tackle climate change
Swanage and Wareham RFC & Sustainable Wareham teamed up in a scheme involving families and children to combat climate change.
Trees breathe life into our planet, and planting more helps to tackle climate change, and create a better future for the next generation.
That’s why Swanage and Wareham RFC, with around 220 mini and youth players from U6s to Colts, three senior men’s teams with some 120 registered players and a ladies XV with around 24 players, were delighted to work with a new and progressive local environmental group and plant 30 new trees at the club’s ground.
Swanage and Wareham RFC and Sustainable Wareham teamed up in a scheme involving families and children in positive action to combat climate change.
The Swans provided a space beside one if their pitches in Wareham, while the environmental group contributed 30 saplings of silver birch, rowan and wild cherry donated to them by the Woodland Trust.
Families, children, players and officials chose a tree each to plant out and maintain, receiving a certificate giving them “ownership” of their plot. Many devoted their trees to lost loved ones and one family even added the ashes of a recently deceased grandfather to the roots of their sapling, saying that he could continue to watch rugby at Swanage and Wareham RFC.
Swans chairman Martin Hill said: “We wanted to encourage the club’s youth players and the children of older players to adopt, look after and nurture these trees so they become aware of the environment and the need to improve it. We are very happy to do our tiny bit to help the planet.
“The plants are very small at the moment but will grow with the children who planted them. And in years to come they will hopefully be a magnificent spread of trees. It’s brilliant for everyone at the club to be involved in helping nature. And to have many of the trees representing a memorial to someone who has been lost makes it particularly poignant.”
"We had more people wanting to plant a tree than we had trees available, so as a club we will be offering more trees to be adopted in the spring, when we are planning to plant our own orchard with apple, pear and cherry trees".
The planting is the first major nature-related project carried out by Sustainable Wareham, which has gained more than 100 members since launching just seven months ago. They include tree experts who drew up a planting plan for the Swans and advised on the recycled plastic tubes that protect the saplings. Once the saplings have established themselves, these plastic tubes will be replaced with wooden stakes wrapped with knitted sheep wool in the club colours of maroon and white.
The group’s founder Mary Morris said: “We thought there was a need to put more trees into Wareham without cost to those who would accept them. I’m glad to say the rugby club said they would love to do it. I was really excited to see the saplings go in. It was great to see the idea come to fruition after a lot of hard work.
“We are looking to do more of the same and are already working on a plan to introduce wildflowers in the club colours in their hedgerows.”
