Press Release from RIBI

December 2003

HEAVY HORSES CLEAR THE WAY FOR NEW ROTARY GLADE AT WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM

Heavy Horses have completed clearing trees to prepare for a new glade of Maple trees just as they would have done 100 years ago, to honour the centenary of the Rotary movement.

The Rotary Club of the South Cotswolds, which draws its members from the Tetbury & Malmesbury areas, has ambitious plans to mark the centenary of the Rotary movement in 2005. Rotary, the world’s first voluntary service organisation, was founded by Paul Harris, a Lawyer, in Chicago in February 1905. Now numbering over 1.2 million members worldwide, Rotary International has asked all clubs to mark the centenary with a significant project for their communities.

South Cotswold Rotarians have agreed to spearhead a plan to create a Rotary Glade of Maples in the National Arboretum at Westonbirt. The 100 maple trees, sourced from all around the world, will be a significant part of what the Forestry Commission plans as the foremost collection of maples in the world.

To make space for the new trees, a swathe will be cut through the existing Larch plantation, which will provide shade and shelter for the maple trail. The horses have been working at Westonbirt in November and today complete the work of clearing trees. President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, Brian Stoyel from Saltash, will be at the Arboretum, where he will witness the felling of the final Larch tree.

Mr Stoyel said “Westonbirt’s beautiful Acer Glade is already world famous and the Rotary Glade will be a lasting and colourful celebration of the first 100 years of Rotary.”

For further information please contact Judith Diment Rotary PR on 07860 162313 or: Kellie Lovett Westonbirt on :01666 881226 for photographic opportunities.

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