For immediate publication: Friday, 9 May 2008
SCHOOL PUPILS RE-FOREST THE FOOTPRINT OF HAINAULT
Historic Hainault Forest has gradually diminished over the centuries, but over the last two weeks, Year 3 pupils from Thomas Willingale School in Loughton and Woodford Green Primary School have been doing their best to replenish the forest. They joined forces with the Woodland Trust and the Muslim Cemetery Trust on Elmbridge Road in Hainault to plant more than 100 trees in the Gardens of Peace Muslim Cemetery, which was once part of Hainault Forest.
The new native broadleaved trees are part of the Woodland Trust’s creation of a natural, green oasis at the very heart of Hainault.
Tony Chadwick, the Woodland Trust’s development officer for Hainault Forest said: “This Muslim Cemetery is the largest in Europe. It stands within the footprint of what was Hainault Forest, which covered 4,900 acres but was broken up after 1851.
“We’ll never be able to re-create Hainault’s ancient woodland here, but we can still create a haven for wildlife and people,” he said. “It’s really exciting to be working with the Muslim Cemetery Trust, teaching primary school children how to plant trees and introducing the idea of respect for nature, which is a part of all religions.”
In the Islamic faith, the prophet Mohammad said: “Anyone who plants a tree under which people seek shade or shelter from the sun will have his reward with Allah.”
The children explored similarities and differences between Muslim cemeteries and other cemeteries they had seen or visited. The sessions ended with a series of nature games designed to be fun and educational.
Farouk Ismail of the Muslim Cemetery Trust said: “The two school sessions were a great start to what we hope will be a much longer partnership with the Woodland Trust and the local community. We have been delighted to support the project with our own funds and with the involvement of our staff and network of volunteers.”
