Replant trees in our CIC woodland site

My name is Clare and my partners name is Kai. We run Rika ACE CIC on Longdale Lane, Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire

We are a ‘not for profit’ company (Community Interest Company) who provide bushcraft and outdoor activities/events for all ages and abilities. We are incredibly passionate about providing a safe and relaxing space for the children and adults we work with to spend time in.

We work with many different people from all kinds of backgrounds and support many charitable groups, youth groups, Veteran support groups, various organisations supporting vulnerable people, Schools, Home educators and the community in general. Many people who come to sessions with us are incredibly sensitive to change especially when the space around them is not what they expect when they arrive.

With this in mind we had a bit of a shock on arrival at site Friday morning. We discovered that a very large cherry laurel tree had been removed from the neighbouring land which previously overhung our land creating a beautiful green barrier around our main bushcraft area. During the removal the jcb/digger had taken down the partition fence and some trees on our property including approx 8 cherry laurel trees, an elder tree and several saplings that had been lovingly planted by children who attend our sessions (mostly Hazel).

The teens sessions we ran Friday were upset at the destruction to the area and the younger aged sessions and vulnerable groups we work with will be devastated when they see it. Some of the groups we work with will find this change in the privacy and the lack of green surroundings even more disturbing.

We do not want to dwell on what’s happened but concentrate on what can be done to resolve the situation for those who attend our setting. To this end we are putting out a plea to the local people to donate so that we can purchase semi mature Laurel and Conifer trees and supplies to plant them.

PLEASE - We need your help to make the space more comfortable for those we support and provide some of the cover, privacy and protection from the weather that they are used to in this area.

We estimate that the cost of the trees and equipment needed will total around £900. We have been lucky enough to receive £300 from local and borough councillors which leaves us with £600 to raise.

Approx breakdown based on current supply prices but if we received beyond this amount we would upgrade the post digger to 1 petrol instead of 2 manual and/or purchase extra trees

pack of 10 semi mature Laurel - £680

post digger (manual) x 2 - £80

Gardening spades x 2 - £50

Gardening forks x 2 - £50

Tree ties for posts - £10

Gardening gloves for children x 10 - £30

Please donate whatever you can to support this project

The cover photo shows the area before and after the tree removal