Knaresborough Rotarians celebrate centenary and donate 100 trees to parkland
17 November 2009
Photo Opportunity - 28 Novembr - see below
Members of the Rotary Club of Knaresborough are donating 100 trees to Jacob Smith Park to celebrate the club's centenary.
As well as providing the trees, they are also providing tree guards to make sure the trees grow strong and healthy.
They will be growing alongside more than two hundred trees in this 30-acre walled parkland in Scriven, near Knaresborough which was bequeathed by the late Miss Winifred Jacob Smith, the last member of a local renowned farming family.
Members of the Friends of Jacob Smith Park, Scriven Parish Council, Knaresborough Town Council and Harrogate Borough Council's arboricultural team will be on hand to help the Rotarians plant the trees at 9.00 am on Saturday,
28 November at 9.00 am.
Simon Klippel, Chair of the Friends of Jacob Smith Park, thanks the Rotarians for their gift.
He said:
"Miss Jacob Smith left this parkland in trust for the public.
We are working very closely with Harrogate Borough Council's parks team to make it a beautiful public park.
I am pleased to say that the group, which was set up earlier this year, is now really seeing some successful events and projects.
"Following on from the big picnic we held in the summer, we want the tree planting to be another community event.
So if anyone would like to come down and help with the planting they would be more than welcome.
And if they can't manage that but would like to come to a meeting of the Friends' Group we would be pleased to see them."
Some of the trees in Jacob Smith Park are veteran oaks.
President of the Rotary Club of Knaresborough, Mike Wilkins, hopes that new members of the club in 100 years' time will be able to celebrate the centenary of the planting of the trees.
He added:
"The ethos of our club is to give to the community.
That can be through voluntary work or through gifts and community projects such as this.
"It has been a pleasure working with all the partners and we are looking forward to the tree planting in this wonderful open space and woodland.
We are also hoping that we will be joined by Miss Jacob Smith's Trustees who will be able to see first hand what a success the bequest has been."
The next meeting of the Friends' of Jacob Smith Park will take place on 20 January 2010 at 7.00 pm in Park Grove
Methodist Church.
Further information:
Mr Simon Klippel can be contacted at
friends@jacobsmithpark.org.uk
and Mr
Mike Wilkinsis on 01423 864833.
Further technical information is available from Mr Patrick Kilburn, Harrogate Council's Head of Parks and Open Spaces on 01423 841106.
PR1877.Knaresborough Rotary Club Celebrates centenary tree planting at JSP