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Hug a tree!

Hug a tree!

Saturday 13 June 2020

Hug a tree!

Saturday 13 June 2020


While current virus restrictions prevent islanders from hugging each other, there is nothing stopping you from hugging a tree - which is exactly what youngsters are being asked to do this weekend.

Young people are being encouraged to go green and embrace the natural environment as part of Jersey Heritage’s latest Discovery Day, 'Trees Please', which will take place on Sunday (14 June) on the Heritage at Home hub.

Jersey Heritage has partnered with Trees for Life to enable families to find out more about trees and how vital they are to the planet.

Crafts and activities celebrating trees - including some tree hugging - will also be part of the fun.

Trees_Please_magical_tree_at_LHB.jpg

Pictured: 'Trees Please' aim to celebrate trees and all the good they do.

“We can’t hug anyone outside our immediate family at the moment, but there’s nothing to stop us hugging a tree!" Nicky Lucas, Jersey Heritage’s Community Events Curator, said. 

"And they more than deserve a hug – they are the biggest and oldest plants on earth, giving us oxygen, storing carbon, stabilising the soil and providing homes for wildlife."

'Trees Please' was planned many months ago, Ms Lucas said, in a bid to celebrate all the good trees do.

"Research shows that within minutes of being surround by trees and green space, our blood pressure drops, heart rate slows and stress levels come down – spending time among trees is good for all of us," she explained.

"Trees Please is all about celebrating this and about having fun.”

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Pictured: The day will include a tree trail at the ancient site of La Hougue Bie.

'Discovery Days' are themed activity days encouraging children of primary school age to explore and engage with Jersey Heritage in a fun and creative way. They usually take place at one of the visitor sites but as large groups are still unable to gather in the current circumstances, the events have been moved online.

Trees Please will be primarily based on the Heritage at Home hub through resources and videos for younger islanders.

Families will also be encouraged to get out in the fresh air and follow a tree trail at the ancient site of La Hougue Bie, which lies beneath a beautiful canopy of trees. The the grounds recently reopened to the public and it is now possible to walk around the site again.

Other activities will include: 

  • Measuring the height of a tree with nothing but a pencil and tape measure
  • Making a ‘grateful tree’ at home
  • Watercolour tree art lessons
  • ‘From Little Acorns’ tree seed recognition.

tree

Pictured: Children will learn how to measure a tree with nothing but a pencil and tape measure.

We had to think creatively about how to continue our Discovery Days at this difficult time, but they are a popular part of the Jersey Heritage events calendar and we were determined to keep them going," Ms Lucas said.

"We hope the activities we have planned will inspire the children in your life to observe and appreciate trees even more, and to realise that we need more trees and more time spent among them.”

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