Mighty Oaks planned for Jacob Smith Park, Scriven, Nr Knaresborough
All children learn that mighty oaks grow from small acorns and schoolchildren in Knaresborough are putting it into practice for Jacob Smith Park.
About 50 pupils from St Mary’s, Meadowside, The Forest and St John’s are growing 300 acorns and will look after their fledgling oak trees once they are planted in the parkland at some time in the future.
In the meantime, and as a thank you to them for their efforts, they were invited this morning (18th February 2011) to celebrate the value of trees by working alongside the Friends of Jacob Smith Park and Harrogate Borough Council.
The young pupils planted four semi-mature 12 foot-oak trees and 100 native trees specially provided by the council.
Jacob Smith Park is situated in the village of Scriven, approximately one mile from the centre of Knaresborough. The gate to its 30 acres of walled parkland was opened on 11 January 2008 following a generous bequest by Miss Winifred Jacob Smith. Harrogate Borough Council took over this private parkland so that Miss Jacob Smith’s wishes could be followed that “the parkland be opened for people to enjoy the freedom and beauty that public parks bring”.
The council works with the Friends of Jacob Smith Park to make sure that the parkland can offer informal recreational opportunities. It is mainly used by local people and makes the park a valuable asset to local residents in and around the Scriven area.
Andrew Jones MP for Harroagte and Knaresborough commented: “It is important for younger generations to be involved with the conservation of our area and so it is great to see the children and the council working together in the park to plant these fledgling oaks. The trees will give much pleasure for present and future park users who will have the opportunity to see them grow from the saplings they are today into the mighty oak trees they will in many years become. Having been involved in the legal side of establishing Jacob Smith Park as a Councillor, I am pleased to be involved in this new chapter of the park’s development as Knaresborough’s MP.”
Richard Owen Hughes, Chair of the Friends of Jacob Smith Park, says this school project is to make sure that Jacob Smith Park continues to be known for its magnificent display of oak trees.
He added: “The children are working very hard for their local community. The gardening clubs at each school are very excited about growing their acorns and the whole project is making them conscious of their own environment and the need to plan for future generations.”
With projects such as new gates, new signs and full biological study of the park in the pipeline, the Friends, in partnership with Harrogate Borough Council, are working hard to conserve the park and learn more about its ecology.
If you would like more information or would like to be involved with the park then email friends@jacobsmithpark.org.uk
