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You are here: Home > News > Cherry Tree Trefoil Replaced After 73 Years

• Cherry tree trefoil replaced after 73 years

• Date:

  30th January 2008

• Contact:

  Sarah Egerton

• Organisation:

  The Civic Trust

Girl Guides from 1935 and 2008 got together on Saturday to help start the planting of hundreds of cherry trees in Edinburgh's Green Flag Award-winning Braidburn Valley Park. It was 73 years ago when 5000 Girl Guides, Brownies and Rangers from Edinburgh planted 400 cherry trees in the shape of a trefoil to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V.

With the ornamental trees reaching the end of their natural lives, the City of Edinburgh Council, with help from Friends of Braidburn Valley Park, now aims to replace all the trees.

Most of the work will be carried out by contractors, but the Girl Guide Association were involved in planting the first replacement trees, launching an ongoing programme to replace and rejuvenate the trefoil feature, one of many projects in the Green Flag Award Park.

Margaret Winter, County Commissioner, Girlguiding Edinburgh said: “The trees have been a beautiful feature of the Park for many years. I am delighted that there are representatives from those original Guides present, including my own mum, local resident Mrs Mary MacLean, now aged 88, linking the past and present in a unique way. Guiding will celebrate its Centenary in 2010 and we hope to maintain the link with the Park which is so special for generations of our members’’.

Karen Young, Chair, Friends of Braid Burn Valley Park: “The Cherry Trefoil planted by the Guides in 1935 is an outstanding feature in Braidburn Valley Park. Generations have enjoyed the spring blossom and autumn colours.  The Friends of Braidburn Valley Park are delighted that the Guides are here today to plant more cherry trees that will be enjoyed by generations to come.”

Recent projects at Braidburn include upgrading of paths, signage, wildflower meadow plantings, tree and bulb planting, and environmental education & promotional packs for visitors. The Friends groups, who were instrumental in helping to secure a Green Flag Award, have also just been awarded a Parks and Gardens Community grant to create a permanent orienteering course in the park.