AS BARBADOS celebrated Arbor Day yesterday, four Christ Church primary schools had shaded trees planted on their grounds.
The Lions Club of Barbados South planted seven of them: two each at St Christopher’s, St Bartholomew’s and Gordon Walters’; and one at Jones’ Private.
Lions South president Corlis Weekes-Grazette told the pupils of St Christopher’s of the importance of planting and preserving trees.
“We are celebrating Arbor Day today – which marks the anniversary of Hurricane Janet. On the day of the hurricane we lost a lot of trees. This is why we need to sustain our environment by planting trees all over the island,” Weekes-Grazette said.
The Lions head said the club was careful also with the types of tree they placed on schools’ properties.
“We refrain from planting fruit trees because they pose a problem for the school property when the fruits are in season. People from within the communities tend to climb or destroy the fences to get to the fruit,” she explained.
There was a simple planting ceremony witnessed by students at St Bartholomew’s, Gordon Walters’ and Jones’ Private.
Over at Accra Beach & Spa, a certified green hotel, members of staff paused from their daily duties to plant a sea grape tree just inside the wall separating the property from the beach.
Nikki McChlery, who assists with the hotel’s green drive, said the property was not big enough to plant a new tree every year, but they would endeavour to plant a tree every two years on Arbor Day. (AH/YB)
