Monday 11-04-2022 - 14:46

In March, students and staff came together for a tree-planting event at Penllergaer Valley Woods. INSPIRE Intern, Alina, who organized the event, tells us how it went and how the trees planted will benefit generations to come.

By: Alina Mariutac

Swansea Events and Campaigns INPSIRE Intern 2022

What could be more beautiful than a tree that has been able to fully develop? Trees are essential to our well-being, protect biodiversity, create a home for wildlife, help with climate changes, they are the perfect place to sit around, relax, play and chat. Trees have a very important social role; just as we are able to enjoy the trees planted by the generations before us, we can also let future generations enjoy a green legacy.

It’s no surprise then that In March, the INSPIRE team and the Students Union decided to host a tree-planting event to plant 200 trees in a site in Swansea – one for every year of UWTSD; happy bicentenary! Students and Staff from across the university came together, got mucked in and planted trees in alliance with Penllergaer Valley Woods Community and Coeden Fach Community Tree Nursing.

A big thankyou to Coeden Fach Community Tree Nursing who supplied the saplings! Oak, Hazel, Holly and Dog Rose, species that are essential for birds and small mammals and provide shelter in the winter.

The opportunity to plant in Penllergaer Valley Woods was amazing opportunity for this project. A secret magical place! It consists of over a hundred hectares of mixed woodland, two lakes, a spectacular waterfall and over five hundred years of Welsh History.

I’m proud for everyone who took part; thanks for making an impact on Swansea to become a greener city, a great way to encourage wildlife and create a sustainable beautiful space for future generations. It was great to see Students and Academics come together to network too.

“I am delighted and proud that we organized the tree planting event, “Plant a tree, Plant a hope”.  Covid has affected students, community and the environment in so many ways over the last few years; I just wanted to do something that I’m really passionate about - Trees and my interest in Sustainability. It was great being able to encourage and support UWTSD students to learn more about the environment and how together we can make this world beautiful again and for many years to come.” 

Alina Mariutac,  INSPIRE Intern, BA Leadership and Management Skills for the Workplace

 

“The planting of 200 trees at Penllegaer Woods was such a wonderful event to highlight and celebrate the University’s Bi-centenary year.  It was fantastic to see collaboration between the local community, students, Students’ Union and academic staff, to not only mark such a significant time in the University’s history, but to plant trees and hedgerow for both current and future generations to benefit from and enjoy. Well done to all the students, particularly Alina Mariutac for planning and implementing such a fantastic event.”

Marie Pitson, UWTSD Lecturer

 

“Thoroughly enjoyed the tree planting event organised by the UWTSD INSPIRE Intern Alina Mariutac; I was so pleased to assist with planting 200 tree to transform a bit of the woodland, and I learnt how to identify different trees and how they have the best chance to flourish. I think it’s safe to say, I really loved the event! “

Ewan Richards, MSc Software Engineering, School of Applied Computing. 

The success of "Plant a tree, Plant a hope" was possible because of support by:

INSPIRE, Penllergaer Valley Woods, Coeden Fach Community Tree Nursing and Students and Staff from University of Wales Trinity Saint David.

Thanks for reading!

Alina