Banbury Quakers celebrate beech tree
'The event was open to all, and celebrated the life of the beloved tree, the millions of rich lives it supported, the life it represents, and much of the history that has happened around it.’
Banbury Friends have been celebrating the life of a beech tree which graced their garden for over 150 years, but recently had to be felled.
Maria Huff, clerk of Banbury Meeting, said: ‘Out of the great sadness we experienced in losing this majestic tree, which had to be taken down in the interests of public safety, we wanted to salvage something positive, and invite people into the Meeting house and its gardens to share an afternoon of uplifting and enjoyable activities. The event was open to all, and celebrated the life of the beloved tree, the millions of rich lives it supported, the life it represents, and much of the history that has happened around it.’
The afternoon on 1 May (‘May Day’) included a variety of music and dance, along with poetry and readings. Films were shown about the exciting life of trees, including what Banbury Friends called ‘an intriguing insight into what has become known as the “wood wide web”’. A talk from Neil Bailey of Earthwatch highlighted the charity’s Tiny Forest programme which funds projects to restore nature to neighbourhoods, including in cities and urban areas. Since the first ‘Tiny Forest’ in 2020, the movement has grown to almost 150 forests, bringing together communities, public sector and businesses.
Deforestation in the UK has recently been in the press after more than 100 mature trees were cut down in the centre of Plymouth last month, despite widespread opposition from local people, including a petition signed by 16,000 people.
The move came within days of a highly-critical report on the unnecessary destruction of thousands of trees by Sheffield city council. An inquiry into what was dubbed ‘the chainsaw massacre’ found the council guilty of ‘a serious and sustained failure of strategic leadership’.
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