Lunch time Hybrid meeting - Gilvenbank Hotel - Benedict Bate from the Woodland Trust

On Thursday 24th March 2022 President Brian Johnson. welcomed 13 Club Rotarians with 1 on ZOOM and speaker Benedict Bate to this our Hybrid lunch time meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel.

Five apologies for nonattendance were received.

President Brian advised in his future District Foundation Chair role he had attended a weekend training course in Birmingham over last weekend. Information had come through advising that 8 polio volunteer health workers had been murdered recently whilst volunteering.

Iain Oates advised that he had made enquiries about housing for the refugees from Ukraine and how this was getting administered.

Our speaker this week was Benedict Bate from Woodland Trust previously an accountant who himself is an active sports person involved in hill running, orienteering and road cycling. The Woodland Trust formed in 1972 is the largest woodland conservation charity in the United Kingdom and is concerned with the creation, protection, and restoration of native woodland heritage has planted over 50 million trees. Wooded areas in Britain cover only 13% of the ground area whereas in Europe 37% is wooded. For the Woodland Trust, 2020 began with a clarion call for the repair and regeneration of our natural world. An Emergency Tree Plan offered a bold blueprint for boosting the UK’s forest canopy from 13% to 19% by 2050, calling on governments to fund a 150% hike in annual planting rates and find new money to incentivise the natural regeneration of woodland. By August they had turned that vision into action with the launch of their Emergency Tree Fund, which is supporting major community planting partnerships with 12 local authorities across Britain. Over the past year we in Rotary have been involved with Rotarian’s Amy Thomson in Balbirnie, David Cooper in Friends of Riverside Park by planting Saplings and at Auchmuty High School and Southwood Primary Schools planting crocuses.

The Rotary Vote of thanks was given by Iain Oates

The Easter shoeboxes collection is almost due as they will be delivered to Perth on 6^th April 2022 where deliveries will be sent to Regular deliveries to Ukraine – Odessa Good Samaritan Charity Foundation, Moldova – Chisinau and Romania – Iasi, Baia Mare, Cluj Napoca, Tinaud & Siria

The Ukrainian appeal is still on going with storage at the Glenrothes Sports and community hub by advance appointment only. Our next van load will be moving on Wednesday. The initial rush to support has abated but schools are still looking to get involved and not just the Glenrothes area. Many thanks to Syeeda Ramzan’s customers at Hammy’s convenience store who have continued to donate a further £80 to her.

This coming week Thursday 31st March 2022 is an evening meeting with our speaker David Corstorphine from the RNLI with the meeting commencing at 6.45pm.

If you were interested in supporting the community and international projects get in touch by Private message on The Rotary Club of Glenrothes Facebook page. You will be made most welcome.