Lions help with tree planting as Girlguides surprise member with award
A Shropshire division of the Girlguides combined a tree planting ceremony with an award for one of its members who was the first in Shropshire to earn maximum number of badges at the highest possible standard.
The Bridgnorth Lions donated a cherry tree and were on hand to help the local branch of the Girlguides plant it at a ceremony at St Leonards Church Hall on Racecourse Drive in the town last Saturday (March 25).
The tree planting was part of the Queen's Green Canopy initiative that was set up in 2021 with the aim of planting trees as part of the celebrations for Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee last year.
Despite the death of Queen Elizabeth, the scheme is still continuing and more than one million trees have been planted worldwide to date.
Along with the tree planting in Bridgnorth, there was a surprise award for local Girlguide, Merab Walker, who has achieved all her internal badges to the highest standards and is the first to do so in the county.
Diana Griffiths, leader of the 1st Bridgnorth Guides and the division commissioner for Bridgnorth, said: "It was a lovely day, The weather was wonderful.
"Merab is 14 and has been a guide for just under four years. In that time she has earned 24 interest badges that the guides do at home. Usually guides only earn two or three of these, so to get 24 and to the highest standard was a great achievement."
She added that Merab was also given a gold award - the highest achievable - for her last two badges, which was presented to her by the group's county commissioner Sarah Myers.
A spokesperson for the Bridgnorth Lions added: "The Bridgnorth Lions have through their Environmental Working Party looked for local projects. When we were approached to supply a cherry tree for First Bridgnorth Guides this was a typical project.
"The tree was sourced from Walcott organic nurseries and has been registered on the late Queen's Green Canopy project."
