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Report for the Year Ending 31st December 2006
Description of the Organisation Trees of Light is a not for profit organisation, sponsored by the Light of Hope C.I.C. a Community Interest Company registered at Companies House with the C.I.C. Regulator (Company No 4651626). The Light of Hope C.I.C. is a holistic healing and teaching organisation. During the year 2005 it was decided that the Trees of Light Project would be formalised and five officers were appointed being John Astbury, Advisor (also Chairman and Director of the Light of Hope C.I.C.), Vanda Bingley, Committee Member (also Director of the Light of Hope C.I.C.), Dr Anna Rewilak, Committee Member (also Director of the Light of Hope C.I.C.), Cathy Sergeant, Treasurer (also Director and Company Secretary of the Light of Hope C.I.C.) and David Sergeant, Chairman (also Member of the Light of Hope C.I.C.). The day to day running and the finances of the project are the responsibility of David and Cathy Sergeant. Mission The Mission of Trees of Light is to promote the planting of specially nurtured trees and shrubs to enable positive energy/light to anchor to the Earth and to encourage a positive change for the planet and its inhabitants. Background We have always had a love for nature and the countryside, our main hobby being walking. We have been growing trees from seed on a fairly small basis, for a number of years, for our own pleasure. As our own awareness grew of the need for trees, from an environmental and spiritual aspect, as well as our knowledge of the beneficial effect of crystals, we decided that we wished to devote more time to growing trees. We spoke to many people and realised that there is much concern about the loss of woodlands and natural habitat and we wished to involve many different people with the collecting of seeds, growing and planting of trees. The local newspaper published an article about us in May 2005. Main events during 2006 On January 1st 2006, Trees of Light began its activities in a formal manner. Cathy Sergeant had left her employment as a Company Accountant so that she could devote her time to the project. The organisation rules were agreed. The aim of the Project is to · Provide trees and shrubs, which have been individually nurtured with a Rose Quartz Crystal to the root. Each Rose Quartz Crystal has been specifically programmed for peace and to increase positive energy/light within and around the plant. This, in turn, allows positive energy/light to anchor to the Earth for the nourishment and benefit of all · Involve as many individuals and organisations as possible · Provide help with planting where there may be difficulties · Promote the caring and nurturing of trees, especially with a 'hands on' approach · Treat each plant individually and grow them in as natural a manner as possible · Provide mainly, but not exclusively, local indigenous species of trees · For individuals with not enough space for a tree we will provide the option of shrubs which have been grown with crystals
During January and February discussions were held between John Astbury, David Sergeant and Cathy Sergeant, the purpose of these being to decide the requirements of the Project and whom we could benefit. Some of the needs identified were:- · Land for the purpose of planting up tree seeds, storage of saplings, storage of top soil / pots / tools etc · Land for planting out, this was viewed as a longer term need · Equipment e.g. poly tunnel for shelter / shelving for seed trays / refrigerator for seed storage and stratification · Consumables e.g. peat pots, trays, poly pots, gravel, good quality topsoil · Establishing market connections for the trees - ideas included schools, local councils, individuals, memorial gardens · Funding so that the Project could expand at the end of the year when the seeds are collected. · Increased technical knowledge relating to propagation of trees and shrubs · Website to provide information and also to enable orders to be taken in the future · Logo / leaflets / stationery etc · Bank account · Vehicle for transportation of trees
February 20th 2006, we had a meeting with John Frankland at Business Link in Halifax; he did not feel that they could help us with funding at that time. He did, however, suggest some business courses which were of interest. Cathy attended a course on internet search engines and David attended a course on social enterprises. He advised us that it would be a good idea to contact Green Business Network at their office in Sowerby Bridge. On the 24th March 2006 we had a meeting with Nigel Oliver from Green Business Network and we described our project, we were also introduced to Graham Wiles who is involved with the Able Project in Wakefield. Nigel Oliver and Graham Wiles were very interested in the sapling trees which we had available at that time, their particular interest was in the fact that the trees had local provenance. It was agreed that 120 trees would be supplied to the Pitstop project for a donation of £780. The website (www.treesoflight.co.uk) was registered and developed during the year as well as stationery and leaflets. A bank account was opened in May 2006. This is a Community Directplus Account with the Co-operative Bank in Skelmersdale who provide free banking to organisations with ethical objectives. Also in May we visited Judith and Pat Lee in Ellesmere Port, who are experts in horticulture. They provided us with many tips and much information regarding taking cuttings from trees and shrubs. Throughout the summer we have been growing shrubs from cuttings. We had an exhibition stand at the Shibden Hall Craft Fair in May, our view of this is that it had a limited success but many people were interested in our plants. We remain undecided as to the value of attending exhibitions In July we received a donation from LBS Horticulture, Colne. This was 100 large planter bags with a value of £215. Also in July, Cathy attended a meeting at the Leonard Cheshire Homes, White Windows in Sowerby Bridge. Present were Carole Davies from Leonard Cheshire Homes, Nigel Oliver from Green Business Network and Gareth from the Beechwood Residents Association. A discussion took place about the renovation of the land surrounding the Leonard Cheshire Home. Cathy explained about Trees of Light and the shortage of storage space for saplings. Carole Davies wished to help with this was able to find an area that was suitable in the grounds of the Home and there are now a number of saplings stored there. On 31st August we were invited to visit the ABLE Project in Wakefield. This coincided with the presentation of the award for Innovative Practice in Waste Management and Resource Recovery, which was received by Graham Wiles, the ABLE Project Manager. We were very pleased to see the trees which had been supplied to the Pitstop Project by Trees of Light, many of which had been planted up into large recycled plastic planters by the Pitstop youngsters. We also donated three trees to Adrian Woods, the Pitstop Project Manager. We spoke to Adrian and will be spending some time in the area local to us with people from Pitstop, helping them to collect tree seeds and providing advice on growing them. We also hope that Pitstop youngsters will be able to help Trees of Light in the spring with planting on of seedlings. We also met Neil Davidson, Corporate Social Responsibility, Marshalls plc who was very interested in our work, we explained to him our wish to expand and that we were having difficulty in obtaining land for this purpose. Neil said he would find out whether Marshalls plc had any spare reclaimed land. On 25th September Cathy attended the residents meeting at Leonard Cheshire Homes, White Windows, Cathy explained about Trees of Light to the residents who were at the meeting. Seed collecting started in September and we are pleased to say that is has been a really good autumn for this. We have collected many seeds, Acorns, Horse Chestnut, Hornbeam, Alder to name but a few. We planted up three thousand Acorns and Horse chestnut between the end of September and the first couple of weeks into October. Most of the remaining seeds have been stored in a fridge until the spring. The need for more working / storage space was becoming the number one priority. We were heartened and encouraged by the large number of people who collected seeds for us and all have been gratefully received. During October we had discussions with Neil Davidson, Marshalls plc regarding land for storage and propagation of trees. Also we were invited to attend the Pitstop Project AGM and we learnt about their proposal to have a site in Calderdale, there may be some involvement from Trees of Light. Nigel Oliver from Green Business Network also may ask us to supply trees for planters which would be placed in school playgrounds. A disappointment this month had been the discovery that a large percentage of our planted acorns had been raided by squirrels despite our efforts to net them securely. These were replaced as quickly as we could. On November 2nd we met Neil Davidson and David Smith, Operations Manager, Marshalls plc. They showed us a plot of land in Sowthowram, Halifax that is adjacent to the road and allows access to vehicles. Marshalls have offered to supply a water tank to one corner of the land and will allow Trees of Light to use around half of the area. In the future if this area is not a large enough then Neil Davidson expects there will be other plots which have been restored, after quarrying, that we will be able to use. Neil Davidson wishes that we become involved with the local school with the possibility that each child grows their own tree. This idea falls into line with the aims of the Trees of Light Project. A polytunnel on this site would be ideal as it would provide a covered working area for school children / groups etc as well as providing shelter from frost for the seedlings. Also there is a probable market for the trees with Marshalls plc who have many areas of land which are being planted and returned to nature. In November, Cathy accompanied a group from Pitstop on a seed collection walk around Ogden Water, although it was rather late in the season, we found some tree seeds and other leaves, mushrooms and flowers that were of interest to the youngsters. During December, Neil Davidson has discussed the proposals for the site at Southowram with the Directors at Marshalls plc. A meeting is arranged for 5th January 2007, David Smith, Neil Davidson, David Sergeant and Cathy Sergeant to attend, the details of the set up project will be discussed. There will be a great deal of work involved in this set up phase as well as in the future. Pitstop and also other individuals have offered help with this. In 2004, we planted a Christmas tree, which had been used, into a large planted bag. This tree was donated for use in the Hope Centre, Hebden Bridge for Christmas 2006. A number of people asked if we could supply them with a Christmas Tree in future years. This is an idea that we would like to pursue as the trees could remain in large pots for a number of years and eventually planted out. Trees of Light are to supply trees for large planters in school playgrounds, the first of these is planned for January 2007, this project will be in association with the Green Business Network. Prepared by Cathy and David Sergeant 31st December 2006
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