‘Trees: The Circle of Life’ is the theme for Arbor Day, to be observed next Tuesday, September 22.

As obtained in previous years, the National Conservation Commission (NCC) will be facilitating tree-planting exercises at various locations across the island, as it continues its reforestation efforts in earnest.

Arbor Day activities will commence at 10:00 a.m. next Tuesday, with an official opening ceremony in Queen’s Park. Minister of the Environment, Dr. Denis Lowe, will deliver the feature address to officially launch the celebrations.?? He will also participate in a tree planting ceremony immediately following this event.

???Building with Trees’ is the topic of a lunch-time lecture and panel discussion,???? slated to be held at Queen’s Park, beginning at 1:00 p.m., later that afternoon. It will be delivered by Professor of Biological and Chemical Sciences at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, Sean Carrington.?? Builders, architects, school children and members of the public are especially invited to attend.

Barbadians will have the opportunity to learn more about plant propagation on Wednesday, September 23, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., when the NCC stages a Plant Care & Plant Propagation Workshop in Independence Square. The admission is free.

On Thursday, September 24, the NCC will lead by example, when it throws open its doors for a series of school tours of its nursery at Codrington, St. Michael, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Students of St. Lucy Primary and the Lester Vaughan Secondary Schools will participate in the tours. Students of the Bay Primary and People’s Cathedral Primary Schools will have their opportunity to learn more about trees, the following day, on Friday, September 25, when they visit the Welchman Hall Gully, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The 3rd annual Arbor Expo, one of the highlights of the celebrations, will take place on Saturday, September 26, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Queen’s Park.

It will provide an educational, motivational experience suitable for the entire family and is intended to raise the environmental consciousness of the populace, primarily as it relates to trees and their role, their benefits and importance to our very survival.

Entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations and government departments interested in exhibiting should contact Ricardo Marshall at the NCC at 425-1200/1202/ 1212.?? Exhibitors should be persons interested in the environment, or whose core businesses provide products or services which are derivatives of trees.

Service clubs, community organisations, schools and other interest groups interested in planting trees on Arbor Day should also contact Mr. Marshall to indicate their interest.

cgaskin@barbados.gov.bb

Pin It on Pinterest