Air Cadets dig in to mark 75th anniversary of Coalville squadron
Trees have been planted at Bloor Homes' Oak Tree Gardens development in Donington le Heath to celebrate 75 years of the Air Cadets. Youngsters from the 1188 Coalville Squadron assembled at Bloor Homes’ Oak Tree Gardens development off Frearson Road on Saturday 19th November to carry out the planting.
A total of 30 trees were planted on the day – one at Castle Rock High School in Coalville, which some of the cadets attend, and the other 29 at Oak Tree Gardens, which is just a mile away from the squadron’s base on Forest Road.
The trees, which included a selection of wild cherry, rowan and silver birch, were donated by The Woodland Trust for the occasion.
A plaque commemorating the anniversary has been erected next to the trees on what will become the public open space at the development.
Flight Lieutenant Rebekah Harrison-Page, commanding officer of the 1188 Squadron, said: “The initiative was the idea of our Commandant, Air Commodore Dawn McCafferty, who wanted air cadets everywhere to plant trees for our 75th anniversary.
“It is also the squadron’s 75th anniversary this year so we wanted to do something for the local community. The Oak Tree Gardens development seemed a fitting location, and we are very grateful to Bloor Homes for allowing us plant on their site.”
Bloor Homes site manager Rhys Bowker said: “We were honoured to be asked by the cadets to host their commemorative tree planting and it was a real pleasure to welcome them to Oak Tree Gardens for the day.
“The trees will make a nice addition to the site and I am sure they will be enjoyed by residents at Oak Tree Gardens and the wider community for many years to come.”