A New Beginning for Our Green Mission

James and Yva at AQR’s first tree planting, Avonholme House, 13th April 2024.

This year, we’ve made the first step on our mission that’s a little bit muddy, a lot meaningful, and undeniably important – we planted trees!

Yes, you read that right – we planted trees, and we did it in style (though "style" might be a bit generous considering the boggy field and some less-than-ideal tools). Our first-ever tree planting event was held at Avonholme House, a venue that holds special significance for our celebrant Yva, as she lives nearby. It’s a place that’s close to our hearts, making it the perfect starting point for a tradition we plan to continue year after year.

Under the cloudy skies of early spring, three volunteers – two celebrants (James and Yva) and a friend of AQR – gathered at the property to plant 135 native trees and sprinkle wildflower seeds across the land. The field was wetter than a soggy sponge, but that didn’t deter us. Armed with wellies, spades, and, in James’s case, a tiny fork that was shockingly under-equipped for such a task, we dove in and made holes, planted trees, and, of course, reveled in the satisfying feeling of working together for something bigger than ourselves.

The Woodland Trust has very wisely said that “native woods and trees are one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis,” and we couldn’t agree more.

This isn’t just about planting trees – it’s about taking action in a way that makes a real difference. These trees will grow, flourish, and contribute to the vital ecosystem that sustains life for us all.

Our goal is to plant a tree for every ceremony we do, so what better way to mark the start of our journey than with a hands-on, muddy day in the field? We’re aiming high, but with this first planting, we’ve already exceeded our target for the year – we hoped to plant 1 tree for every ceremony we did this year and we ended up doing much better than that planting a total of 2.4 trees for every ceremony we did!

Space in the mud at AQR Tree planting April 2024

As well as the satisfaction of watching the trees grow, our relationship with the owner of Avonholme House is also blossoming. Yva thinks that this could be the perfect spot for a future AQR ceremony, adding another layer of symbolism to the space. Imagine celebrating life’s most special moments surrounded by trees we planted – a circle of life, a perfect harmony.

There’s a long road ahead for our tree-planting initiative, but we’re excited to see where it takes us. Our mission is clear: we want to plant trees all across Scotland, especially at meaningful, impactful locations. So, here’s to muddy boots, small forks, and a future filled with green! And if anyone has tips on how to handle a boggy field, James would appreciate it.

The revolution grows onwards and upwards – one tree at a time.