Carbon Capture Programme – July ’16

Hello and welcome to the July issue of our Carbon Capture newsletter.

Football, trees and the First World War
One hundred years ago, professional and amateur footballers jogged off the hallowed turf of their beloved clubs – and for some it was the final time.

These men chose to swap their boots for battle to become heroes of a different kind to join in fighting for their country in the trenches of the First World War.

“During and after the conflict, trees were planted in remembrance, marking the loss of life and the sacrifices made. This is why we feel strongly about continuing this tradition by creating living memorials as a fitting tribute to football’s involvement.”
Sir Trevor Brooking CBE, Vice President of the National Football Museum and For Club and Country Ambassador

It was a brutal battle which was to claim the lives of more than a million people – from the FA Cup winner killed just days before the end of war to the soldier injured in battle that fought back to be England captain. And let’s not forget the tireless mothers and daughters who took up roles in munitions factories at stadiums and formed their own football teams to support the war time effort.

Now, in partnership with the National Football Museum and with backing from former West Ham United & England football legend Sir Trevor Brooking, the Woodland Trust have created For Club and Country – a living and digital legacy – which gives supporters of every generation the chance join together to honour these heroes by planting trees in commemoration. For Club and Country features 60 clubs who played a part of the conflict and on the new website, supporters can learn how their team was affected by the war – as well as donate to create a grove in their honour in the Trust’s First World War Centenary Wood at Langley Vale. And in doing so, supporters’ names will become part of the Roll of Honour.

Find out more about the story of Football in the First World War, watch the full video and support your team’s grove at www.forclubandcountry.org.uk

Tree of the Month : Juniper

Mature Juniper trees can reach a height of 10m and live for up to 200 years. Its bark is grey-brown and peels with age, and its twigs are reddish brown. Juniper populations in the UK are shrinking, and the species is a priority under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

The small, needle-like leaves are green with broad silver bands on the inner side, curving slightly to a sharp, prickly point. Common juniper is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Male flowers are small, yellow and globular, and grow in leaf axils near the tips of twigs. Once pollinated by wind, the green female flowers develop into fleshy, purple, aromatic, berry-like cones. Common juniper provides dense cover for nesting birds such as the goldcrest and firecrest and, in northern upland areas, the black grouse. It is the food plant for caterpillars of many species of moth, including the juniper carpet moth, juniper pug and chestnut-coloured carpet, and a number of birds eat the berries, including the fieldfare, song thrush, mistle thrush and the ring ouzel. The most famous use of juniper berries is in the flavouring of gin. They have also recently become a popular ingredient in liqueurs and sauces.

At Datum, we are proud of our ongoing commitment to respecting the environment and conducting our business in a way that is at once ethical, sustainable and responsible, an ongoing commitment to our ISO14001 accreditation.

Tree of the Year returns for 2016
Nominations for the 2016 Tree of the Year are now open! And the Woodland Trust are offering the most popular entries the prospect of extra years of life as a prize.

The competition, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, is open to any living tree in the UK that has a story behind it – from longstanding legends through to memorials or personal connections. The winners will follow in the footsteps of the Major Oak and Cubbington pear tree which have won the crown in the last two years.

Following nominations an independent panel of experts will draw up a shortlist of trees to go to a public vote. Trees of the Year will be named in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Make sure you vote for nominee at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk