Hiroshima trees seek homes

AS THE world commemorates the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, people in Shetland are being asked to suggest local sites to plant trees grown from seeds that survived the nuclear blast.

Seedlings have been grown from 25 gingko seeds given to Shetland Islands Council as part of a worldwide project organised by Mayors for Peace.

Shetland Amenity Trust’s woodland team germinated the seeds in a temperature-controlled greenhouse and report the young trees are doing well.

The project is being coordinated by the Shetland Environmental Education Partnership (ShEEP), and the plant’s progress can be followed on the group’s Facebook site at https://www.facebook.com/shetlandenvironmentaleducationpartnership

SIC convener Malcolm Bell said the need for the world to promote the ideal of peace, harmony and tolerance had never been greater.

“Mayors for Peace, which is made up of civic heads from across the globe, including the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, play a vital role in promoting the concept,” he said.  

“I am delighted to support this unique and thought-provoking project and I hope Shetland folk will feel inspired to get involved and make suggestions for an appropriate place to plant these well-travelled seedlings.”

Suggestions can be sent to environment@shetland.gov.uk or be submitted via the ShEEP’s Facebook site.