Victory Wood, Tree Planting Day
(The Greenwood Grove go tree planting)
By Rob Wilson
On Sunday 20 November 2006 members of the Greenwood Grove participated in a tree planting event at Victory Wood, Kent.
What a wonderful expression of our Druidry this day was! On arriving at the car park, we were told to walk just over the hill to a marquee. Several hills latter we came to the area that was to be planted, but what a stunning area it was, and worth every effort to climb the site. With views out to sea, this frosty, clear day was full of hope, peace and laughter!
A large area was planted, as everyone pitched in with shovels and arms full of straw for mulching. We proceed at such a pace that the Woodland Trust Wardens could not keep up with us, in staking out new areas to plant. Soon a swathe of trees had been planted; this piece of Victory Wood was born!
We ended the day by planting an Oak Sapling with a simple ritual. We called to the spirit of the land, of the place that is to hold, nurture and flow through this new woodland. We honoured the spirits of that past, of our ancestors, of the forests cut down to make battle ships and indeed for some of the freedom we have today as a result of the past. We then honoured the present, of those who gathered to plant this woodland, to the conflicts and the state of the world, and the importance of creating new wild places and indeed the Druid Network and all those who had poured their time, energy and money into the Tree Fund, which resulted in the donation to the Woodland Trust. We then honoured the spirit of the future, of the woodland that would grow tall on this spot, and the presence of peace and tranquillity that it would foster. The sapling was then passed round as everyone held it and offered their prayers and affirming peace and hope for the future. As the tree was planted we made prayers to the soil that would hold its roots and then two of the grove members children placed straw around the sapling for mulching, offering their blessings, made a poignant moment of knowing that we are investing in their future, by planting these trees. We ended by chanting the Awen, a gentle cascade of pure inspiration and spirit that was carried on the wintry breeze and across the land of the new Victory Wood.