Template:Courier-MAR-24-16a
TREES AND SOLAR PANELS CREATE A GREENER REC
Nine saplings have been planted on the Recreation Ground by members of the committee that looks after and runs the village park.
They put on wellies and picked up spades to plant five oaks, two flowering cherries and two alders gifted to the Claygate Recreation Ground Trust by Surrey County Council as part of its county-wide tree-planting scheme, which aims to make the county carbon neutral by 2050 and involves planting 1.2m trees – one for every citizen of the county – by 2030.
As stewards of the Rec, the CRGT committee regards strengthening biodiversity as a key responsibility and hopes that these young trees soon take root and become enjoyable features for generations to come.
While we were planting the trees, many people walked past and confirmed how important it is to keep a balance on the Rec between areas to play and relax and habitats for wildlife. One more tree still needs to go in the ground – a willow – which we plan to plant near the Church Road entrance where there is often standing water.
Another way we are helping the environment is through the recent installation of 48 solar panels on the pavilion roof, thanks to a grant we were able to access with the help of the cricket club.
In less than four weeks we have already generated nearly 300kWh of our own electricity, meaning we are less dependent on the grid, bringing down our electricity bills and saving valuable carbon emissions. The panels are supported by a 13.5kWh battery which means we can store energy for when the sun doesn't shine.
