Celebration event at Dundreggan in the Highlands
Press Release 9th June 2009
Contact: Kerrigan Bell. Telephone 01309 691292; Email marketing@treesforlife.org.uk.
 Bruce Bacon unveils a commemorative plaque to the ‘Dundreggan Champions’, 5th June 2009. |
Conservation charity Trees for Life held a weekend-long celebration of the purchase of its 10,000 acre Dundreggan Estate, one of the largest areas of land in the UK bought for forest restoration, on 6th and 7th June 2009.
The charity’s supporters, directors, staff and special guests gathered on Saturday 6th June at the estate in Glen Moriston, to the west of Loch Ness, for a celebration event which included the dedication of a plaque to all of the Dundreggan Champions whose generous donations made the £1.65 million purchase of the estate last summer possible.
Trees for Life patrons, author and ornithologist Roy Dennis MBE and author and broadcaster Vanessa Collingridge, were present for the champagne toasts, three course dinner and presentations.
Bruce Bacon, representing the Audrey & JJ Martindale Foundation – the largest single donor for the purchase – unveiled a plaque that commemorates all of the large donors, known as the ‘Dundreggan Champions’.
On Sunday 7th June, local residents and supporters attended a free open day at Dundreggan to enjoy refreshments, children’s entertainment by environmental education charity Wild Things!, information and displays on Trees for Life’s award-winning work, and opportunities to explore the estate.
Alan Watson Featherstone, Trees for Life’s Executive Director, said: “We’re very grateful for the tremendous generosity of everyone who helped make the Dundreggan purchase possible. The estate is going to be restored as an outstanding wild landscape that will bring great benefits to the environment and local people for decades to come.
“The commemorative trees we’ve planted this weekend symbolise the beginning of our long-term conservation project for this very special area.”
Trees for Life plans to re-connect the ancient Caledonian Forest between Glen Moriston and Glen Affric through the planting of half a million native trees at Dundreggan. This will be accompanied by the return of native species, and by scientific research and education programmes.
Much of the restoration work at Dundreggan will be carried out by volunteers. Trees for Life would like to hear from individuals or companies interested in joining its Conservation Volunteer Weeks, recently selected as one of the world’s Top 10 Conservation Holidays by BBC Wildlife Magazine.
People can also support Trees for Life's award-winning work restoring the Caledonian Forest through specially-dedicated trees and Groves.
For more information call 0845 458 3506, email info@treesforlife.org.uk or visit www.treesforlife.org.uk.
Ends
Notes to editors
- Trees for Life is a pioneering charity in ecological restoration. It aims to restore the Caledonian Forest to an area of 1,500 square kilometres in the Highlands west of Inverness. Today only 1% of the original Caledonian Forest remains.
- Since planting its first trees in 1991 in Glen Affric, Trees for Life has planted over 800,000 trees. Its awards include 1991 UK Conservation Project of the Year, the Millennium Marque in 2000 and Top 10 Conservation Holidays worldwide (in 2009).
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Last updated: 25 August 2010