Tree O’Clock as Argyll joins the push for the record

The BBC’s Breathing Places campaign aims to break the Guinness World Record for the most trees planted in one hour with Tree O’Clock as the time focused nationwide project energetically joined by from school and community groups across Argyll.

Aligned with National Tree Week, the event will dig for victory between 11.00am and noon on Saturday 5th December.

Anyone who would enjoy the fun of being involved is very welcome and should simply register at the Tree O’Clock website.

So far, organisers have secured pledges nationwide from schools, community groups and other organisations to plant nearly 265,000 trees across 67 council areas. To beat the record, over one million trees will need to be planted in the one-hour slot.

The point of it all is:

• to highlight the beauty and the value of trees in places where people live, work and take leisure;
• to remind us of the habitats they provide for a wide spectrum of animal and vegetable species;
• and to use the trees to consume more of the dangerous carbon dioxide levels that do so much environmental damage.

Argyll and Bute Council, with Lower Clyde Greenspace, is giving 550 free Rowan, Crab Apple and Hawthorn trees to the local schools and community groups who have already registered.

The Council is also offering advice on tree planting on its website – although at the moment we can’t find exactly where this so we can’t provide a link. Tree O’Clock is not just a case of hammering as many saplings as possible into the ground. The ultimate test of the initiative will be how many of the trees survive and grow to maturity.

Councillor Robert Macintyre, Spokesperson for Economy, Environment and Rural Affairs, has urged more people to get involved. He says: ‘People plant trees for all sorts of different reasons, but not usually to help try to break a world record.

‘Whatever the reason, planting trees is a good thing. They support and sustain biodiversity, attract animals and birds and soak up harmful carbon dioxide emissions.

‘I would urge anyone who can plant a tree to do so between 11 and 12am on Saturday 5th December and play their part in this record attempt’.

Schools in Argyll that are already signed up include: Achaleven Primary, Ardchattan Primary, Arrochar Primary, Bunessan Primary, Cardross Primary, Castlehill Primary, Drumlemble Primary, Dunoon Primary, Innellan Primary, Inveraray Primary, Iona Primary, Kilninver Primary, Lochdonhead Primary, Lochgilphead Joint Campus, Lochnell Primary, Lochgoilhead Primary, Port Ellen Primary, Rhu Primary, Rockfield Primary, Rhunahaorine Primary, Rothesay Primary, Small Isles Primary, St Joseph’s Primary, Taynuilt Primary and Tayvallich Primary.

People living in the Helensburgh area are being urged to join a tree planting party at the town’s Duchess Woods from 10am that day. Anyone interested in planting an oak or hawthorn tree in the woods should meet 200m north of the car park at Kathleen Park Entrance from 10.00am, to be ready to dig by 11.00am, the start of the one hour challenge.

Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult and everhone shoud bring any refreshments they may need – like water.

The contact for Friends of Duchess Woods is Rachel Bailey. Contact her:

• by email: fodw84@fodw.org.uk
• by phone: 01436 671359

For more information on the local activities that are part of this event, please contact Joyce MacFarlane of Lower Clyde Greenspace on 01475 712071.