We were delighted to partner with St Ethelburga’s Centre for Peace and Reconciliation during the last weekend in January.
15 volunteers from the Brahma Kumaris community travelled to Gravetye Estate from London, Leicester, Birmingham and Holland, and stayed locally for a tree planting residential experience.
The William Robinson Gravetye Charity aim is to replant a 1-hectare plot, clear felled in 2023 due to a lethal outbreak of the eight-toothed spruce beetle, in the north of the estate near Vowels Lane Car Park.
Shantanu Mandal, volunteer leader in London for Brahma Kumaris, christened the site ‘Peace Wood’ and volunteers took turns to read a Land Acknowledgement Statement before planting commenced.
We were blessed with superb weather on the Saturday and planted 200 wild cherry, Guelder rose and rowan saplings around the perimeter of the wood. The following day saw gales and heavy rain but we managed to plant 140 Macedonian pine and Scots pine in designated areas.
Working with the Brahma Kumaris volunteers was a joyful and calming experience and we hope that their trees will thrive as each one received love and respect. While volunteers were in Sussex, they also enjoyed a night hike in Gravetye Estate and witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets we have seen for a very long time.
We look forward to planting another 1000 saplings during February and March and completing ‘Peace Wood’. All trees were kindly donated by Eforests and we would like to thank and acknowledge Andrew Haining for his support.
