Three hundred trees planted and dedicated in the UK

Our friend from Global Tree Initiative UK, Paul Wielgus, shares a beautiful story with us. He tells us how he came to be involved with Global Tree Initiative and about his latest tree-planting activity, involving a “diverse bunch of willing people”.

“It all started last September during a 9-week solitary retreat in the wonderful mountains of Catalunya, at the Ecodharma Centre in Spain.

Inspired by immersion in the profound writing of Joanna Macy and, in particular, the whole idea of “seeing with new eyes” by embracing the notion of “Deep Time Thinking”, I was struck by a lightning bolt of the blinding obvious!

I found myself experiencing a profound realization of what I really wanted to be doing.

I realized “I just want to plant trees”. But not planting them on my own. Instead, planting them with others. Also, not just with a conventional mindset of the nature of time, but more from a perspective of “Deep Time Thinking”.

I came out of retreat, convinced about my mission to plant trees and the next questions were “plant them where, and with whom?”

It took less than 48 hours for the magic to start to happen!

As someone who cares for cats and their well-being, I volunteer for a wonderful charity – Compassion for Cats.

Founded by an amazing lady – Judy – who has a passion for cats and also for building healthy and caring communities. Her charity engages with young people and helps them with job placement needs; assists the training of the Duke of Edinburgh’s students, involves young people with learning difficulties, and provides a safe space for older people looking for community time.

Above all, Judy not only loves cats, she loves trees as well!

Without hesitation, she and her husband Terry offered a field at Bramley Farm to help plant our trees.

Soon afterwards we initiated a fundraiser which quickly raised over £1000!

We were then able to source 600 trees from various institutions, such as the Somerset Woodland Trust, and private individuals. Then, the most magical part of it all – a diverse bunch of willing people, turned up, to bring a diverse range of experience, expertise, and above all, a sense of joy to the project!

One family that joined the group got to be know as the “Tree Wizards”. According to 15-year-old Emily, they planted around 700 trees on his grandfather’s farm.

Together, we made friends, had fun, and planted trees together!

On March 18, 2023, we planted the last tree of this season, a wonderful precious mighty oak from the ancient Selwood forest.

Tom Kemp (left) with Paul Wielgus (right)

We paused to dedicate this to the late husband of Judy’s best friend, Hazel, and afterward, we had a moments silence, and shared a poem together.”

You can read this inspiring poem in a recent publication on the Community Blog.

Thank you, Paul, for sharing your story and your poem with us. We are so happy to see how you are creating a community through the activity of tree-planting!

If you are in the UK, you can reach out to our volunteer team there. Check our Team Page to learn more.