Information from: Press Release
Tree Planting at Heartwood Forest Photo
200 Ahmadiyya Volunteers, including 34 from Watford, Luton and Stevenage braved the inclement weather on Saturday 16th March 2013, to plant trees at Heartwood Forest Sandridge near St Albans. Originally, it was envisaged to plant about 4,000 Trees but the Ahmadiyya Volunteers managed to achieve 8,000 Trees on a rainy day and under bitterly cold conditions, starting from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
This event was organised by the Woodland Trust and formed part of an on-going “Plant a Tree” at Heartwood Forest scheme. National President of Majlis Ansarullah (MAA) Wasim Ahmad has worked with the Trust in the Planting of Trees at the Queens Jubilee, by sending many volunteers. MAA is the Auxiliary branch of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who is well known for their charitable work locally and globally.
At Heartwood despite the harsh weather conditions, 200 volunteers took part in this worthy cause, far more than anticipated. M Rafiuddin Regional Coordinator from Watford led his team of 34 and managed to plant many trees along with other volunteers to reach the 8,000 total, including an 80 years “young”.Age and distance was not a barrier on this wet, windy and bitterly cold day, many came from far afield.
Member of Parliament for Hitchin and Harpenden, Rt Hon Peter Lilley also joined volunteers in the tree planting on Saturday and commented;”It is wonderful to see so many members of the MAA brave the weather and join us today to support this extremely worthwhile project. Not only will the Heartwood Forest become one of the most attractive and interesting areas of British countryside, it will also act as a strong guarantee that the Green Belt in this area will not be concreted over.”
Louise Neicho, Woodland Officer for Heartwood Forest commenting on the success of the tree planting effort said “On average it takes two volunteers 6 minutes to plant a tree. The members of MAA worked like a whirlwind. We were expecting a drop in productivity due the heavy rain but it seemed that the rain was spurring them on. We had anticipated a maximum of 4000 trees today, but within 3 hours, we had planted well over 8000, mainly due to the effort and dedication of the Ahmadiyya Muslim volunteers.
The Ahmadiyya has also organised many other community projects such as feeding the homeless and charity walks, raising over a million pounds in the last 5 years alone.
MAA supplied the refreshments including hot Chicken Biryani, enjoyed by all.
Categories: Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Europe, Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, UK
A very nice worth emulating performance of glorified act of selfless service of human society by the members of the voluntary auxiliary organisation of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, in which each participant planted at least 40 saplings in three hours. Alhamdolillah. We hope to see in 2 or 3 years period, the scenario of fully grown-up trees in this Heartwood forest area under the ongoing ‘Plant a Tree’scheme. Let Ansarullah volunteers of various other countries /cities follow the foot-prints of UK Ansarullah.
Well done indeed, Ansar volunteers considering that they are all 40 or over in age range, and worked under worst weather conditions. Well done again. May Allah bless you all.
It is very nice service of the Nation.A peteriotic should love and develope his country. God bless all of them .
Well Done.
Ahmadi Muslims are always in the forefront in serviceto the community and humanity at large.
A great job by the Ansar brothrrsd(over 40 years).
They braved a foul wintery weather and didicated to such noble cause.
Allah bless tyhem all.
Thanks to Almighty God who gave us strength to plant all these trees I was a part of group it was relay nice to see all the brothers spread in the fields and without wasting any minute they were finished with the first lot of 3,000 plants within 45 mins this was a shock for the organizers. when they were ask for the more plants they have to rush their truck for more plants and that was the most difficult time for all the volunteers that they have to wait for almost half an hour in bitter cold windy rain and I must salute to all the Ansar Brother that not a single one gone to find a refuge from the rain.
Allah Bless them all.