Soroptimist International club mark the planting of 420 new trees

The Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr Gordon Newton unveiled a plaque and bench at Bridge Mill Way, Tovil on Saturday 3 June.

A plaque and recycled bench have been installed at Bridge Mill Way to mark the planting of trees and greening of the area by the Soroptimist International (SI) club of Medway and Maidstone. The unveiling coincided with the chartering of SI Medway and Maidstone on 3 June 1946.

In January 2022, members of Soroptimist International Medway and Maidstone, planted 420 native tree whips in the ex-landfill site area of Bridge Mill Way Recreation ground in co-operation with the Maidstone Borough Council Parks & Open Spaces Team, to help re-wild the area. Since the planting, Soroptimists have helped to maintain the area by carrying out periodic clean-ups to help keep the area litter-free. It is now a beautiful and peaceful area with lots of wild flowers and is enjoyed by residents and dog walkers.

The former Mayor, Cllr Fay Gooch also joined the event, proudly wearing a Soroptimist brooch, as she was in office in January 2022 when the whips were planted and was very supportive of the work of Soroptimists to improve the lives of women and girls.