UCLan branches out to Moor Park through tree planting project

1 December 2016

University works with Preston City Council to celebrate languages from around the world

Preston’s Moor Park will soon be giving Kew Gardens a run for its money after becoming home to trees from around the world planted by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) during National Tree Week on the 30 November.

The city’s first park, which dates as far back as 1235, is now home to ten new trees native to ten countries; Britain, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain and Russia, which have been planted on the edge of the park facing Deepdale Football Stadium.  UCLan has teamed up with Preston City Council for the project, which aims to celebrate the many languages taught by the School of Language and Global Studies and is led by the University’s Confucius Institute.

"In China, growing and caring for trees is intrinsically linked to education to mirror how by encouraging and nurturing a person they will flourish."

Director of the Institute Feixia Yu took part in a special tree planting ceremony along with Isabel Donnelly, Dean and Director of Business Development and Partnerships at UCLan, and representatives from Preston City Council.

Feixia said: “In China, growing and caring for trees is intrinsically linked to education to mirror how by encouraging and nurturing a person they will flourish.  Planting trees from ten different countries to be nurtured right here in Preston is a fantastic way of sharing this ethos; celebrating the many cultures that come together and thrive at UCLan in a unique and long-lasting way.”

"Celebrating National Tree Week in this way and using the historic location of Moor Park will enable the trees to flourish and become a fantastic backdrop in the city."

Councillor Robert Boswell, Cabinet member for community and environment at Preston City Council, also attended the event.  He said: “It’s a wonderful gesture from the Confucius Institute at UCLan to provide these trees for Preston.

“Celebrating National Tree Week in this way and using the historic location of Moor Park will enable the trees to flourish and become a fantastic backdrop in the city.”

Isabel Donnelly added: “Moor Park is in the middle of a big project to restore it to its former Victorian era glory and I hope our small contribution can go onto make a big difference to people who visit this area of Moor Park.  We’ve chosen the 10 trees very carefully and each one represents a language that is taught here at UCLan.  Of course, if we planted a tree for all the 20 plus languages we teach we would create a small forest.”