Over 120 Biggleswade Scouts and their leaders have just taken part in a world record attempt to plant one million trees across the UK in one hour. It was a mammoth 60 minutes of co-ordinated activity organised nationally by BBC Breathing Places. In Biggleswade, the volunteers created a small wood of 100 trees in Saxon Drive in just 57 minutes as a legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Town Mayor, George Wilson, was on hand to verify the effort as part of a national attempt to smash the Guinness World Record for the number of trees planted in one hour. The present record of 653,143 was set on 25 August 2006 in the Philippines. He said, “This is a test of faith. We just hope the woodland will thrive for decades to provide a conservation area for future generations of Biggleswade people to enjoy.” This 73 year old quipped, “I’ll be over 100 years old before we see all the real benefits of what we have achieved this morning. The Beavers and Cubs here today will be bringing their children to play amongst the trees we have just planted. My favourite is the crab apple and I can’t wait to pick my first fruit.”

The four acre site will have a health centre and surgery at one end and playing fields at the other. But the centrepiece will be the two acres of mixed oak, ash, rowan, crab apple and other woodland perennials that will create an adventure playground for future generations of Biggleswade Scouts and many other youngsters from the town.

Scout Leader Nick Gurney, who organised the event with Chris Bland from BRCC the Bedfordshire Rural Community Charity said, “We hope to have the area called Centenary Walk or Centenary Wood to commemorate 100 years of Scouting in the town. Chris added, “We have given the trees the best possible start with plenty of compost, a tree guard to deter rabbits and a mulch mat to keep the moisture in. The Scouts did a great job in making sure the planting went according to plan right out to the far end of the site.”

County Commissioner John Duley said, “We have 7,000 Scouts in Bedfordshire involved in activities like this. They are doing great work today getting out into the open air and enjoying doing their bit for the environment.” Beaver Scout Georgia Carter aged seven and her brother Stanley a Cub Scout aged nine who live near the site have had a small glimpse of their woodland future. They have been out hugging trees that are over 100 years old and getting a taste of the outdoor life their own children may enjoy in the future. In 2007, 100 years after Scouting started, Scouts around the UK planted half a million trees – one for every member of the movement. Biggleswade Scouts have now celebrated their own centenary by planting trees to leave their personal lasting legacy.

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