10,000 trees, 10,000 children, 10 years - We did it!

Thursday 17th March 2022 marked the completion of a 10-year project - 10,000 children, 10,000 trees, 10 years - the 10,000 children having come from every school in Andover and many surrounding villages to work together to plant a new wood. The day of celebration saw the last combined schools tree planting in Harmony Woods, as oak and ash were planted to complete the 2021-22 section.

The morning began with a procession of around 150 people of all ages and backgrounds, including 50 young Ambassadors from 21 schools who represented the 10,000 children and young people who have planted Harmony Woods across the decade. The procession started at the East Anton sports pavilion, continued into the Andover Diamond Wood, passing Princess Anne’s oak tree (the first to be planted in the woods), into Harmony Woods (the schools planted woodland), finishing in the 2021/22 planting area. Here, the now expert young tree planters led their adult helpers in planting the final 28 oak and ash trees in their section of the wood, each with its own metal label created by volunteers from our Monday work team.

The party then moved on to the site of the first plantings in 2012, where Nigel Atkinson ESQ HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire planted the Platinum Jubilee oak tree. The sun was shining and the skylarks were singing! They weren’t the only voices of song on that day, however; as the Platinum Jubilee oak was finding its new home, we guests joined our voices to sing it into the ground, singing Sarah Morgan’s Tree Shanty, the same song that was sung when the Diamond Jubilee oak was planted, just 10 steps away and 10 years ago.

Following an address by HM Lord-Lieutenant, a personal message of congratulation from Dr Jane Goodall, who was unable to be with us in person, was played to the assembled guests.

Everyone then enjoyed cakes baked by volunteers and donations of fruit, biscuits, tea and coffee from Abel & Cole. Meanwhile, there was storytelling by Amanda Kane-Smith and a photographic exhibition of ATU through the years. The exhibition is still available to view inside the Harmony Woods cabin from now until the end of April.

Guests at the event included Nigel Atkinson ESQ HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, The Mayor of Test Valley Councillor Mark Cooper, Director of Woodland Outreach for the Woodland trust John Tucker, Jasmina Georgovska Schools Liaison Officer for Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots UK, Anne Shepley representing the North Wessex Downs AONB, Andreas Kornevall founder of the Earth Restoration Service, Mary Matthews former family Trustee of Trinley Estate who made the land available for the project, leading wildflower expert Charles Flower from Flower Farms, Jonathon Rau ex-Forestry Commission now with Wessex Woodland, Kieron Beattie KBL, representatives from sponsors Stannah Stairlifts and Abel & Cole, volunteers old and new (including those who have dedicated their time to the project since the very beginning, 11 years ago), the ATU management team, youth team and trustees and of course the pupils, students, headteachers and teachers from 21 of our 28 tree planting schools, best wishes and apologies having been sent from a further 5, who were unable to attend due to staff illnesses.

Each guest, together with many more who could not attend, has been key to the success of the Harmony Woods project and has made invaluable contributions over the years. We cannot say enough just how thankful we are for their support and how proud all should be for helping to achieve this incredible milestone.

We would like to thank BBC South Today for documenting this memorable event. You can see their coverage of the day here: