ICF Take Part in Ride for Research
Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) staff got on their bikes last week to take part in a fundraising cycle benefiting sustainable treescapes charity, Fund4Trees.
Shireen Chambers FICFor, Executive Director, and Russell Horsey, Deputy Director joined 19 participants at the Ride for Research event in Birmingham on Tuesday, April 1st, the eve of the ICF-hosted Trees, People and the Built Environment II (TPBE II) conference.
The cycle started and finished at the TPBE II venue, the University of Birmingham, and took participants on a seventeen mile route of the city, which included historic parts of Bourneville, urban parks, country parks and the canals. The ride also stopped at two Birmingham primary schools, Allens Croft and Woodgate Primary School, where tree plantings took place and a short speech delivered to students and teachers.
Fund4Trees Chair, Russell Ball, said:
“This is the fourth year and our seventh ride as part of Ride for Research, and we are very pleased at its continued success. Having been around the country with the event, it is great to see a turnout of double figures in Birmingham.
“It has been particularly pleasing to be able to speak to over 600 school children en route, and spread our message about the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment through sustainable treescapes.”
Research Key to Sustainable Practice
Professor Julian Evans OBE FICFor, ICF President, joined race participants at this final stop, the University of Birmingham’s School of Physics and Astronomy building, to take part in the ceremonial planting of a Mongolian Lime Tree. Prof Evans said:
“Research underpins successful and sustainable practice. Compared with other land based sectors, funds devoted to tree and forestry research are small, yet the demands from the increasing pest and disease burden trees face, from climate change, from the public’s enjoyment of trees and woodlands, to name but three, all bring challenges. The remarkably successful Ride for Research in raising funds for the young charity Fund4Trees is an exemplar of what can be achieved and what can be a real help. The Institute of Chartered Foresters is and remains an absolutely core supporter.”
All funds raise at the event will support Fund4Trees work to support research, public awareness and education on the benefits of trees and sustainable treescapes.
