Page 6 - ROTO

Rotary Magazine for District 1210

Rotary in Church Stretton planted 100m of wild flower
seeds on verges to encourage people from all walks of
life to connect with each other in celebration of their
local green spaces by planting wildflowers.

The challenge was backed by organisations across civil
society and business including Rotary, Scouts and the
Royal Voluntary Service, and was planned to be the
biggest seed planting in UK and Irish history.
Members of Church Stretton Rotary were joined by
Restoring Shropshire’s Verge’s Project and Church
Stretton Scouts as they sowed seeds on Saturday 23rd
October on the verges along the Shrewsbury Road
between Church Stretton and All Stretton
Rotary shares a key commitment in protecting the
environment and it became one of the worldwide
organisation’s seven Areas of Focus earlier this year.
Rotary is committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural
resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the
environment.

Rotary supported the #BillionSeedChallenge, in planting wildflowers to brighten up parks, verges and
playgrounds with incredible splashes of colour. Plantings took place throughout October, and
culminated on 30th October, the day before COP26, the international climate conference in Glasgow.

Julian Hargreaves, the Club’s Community Team Leader commented, “This was a brilliant
environmental project for us to get involved in being totally in line with Rotary's current philosophy.
Working together with the community and the Scouts was a pleasure. We are particularly grateful to
Terry Davies, Group Scout Leader, for arranging for the Scouts to do this; they were very enthusiastic
raking and sowing and did a brilliant job”.

Blythe Bridge Rotary held their President’s night on 2nd August
at the Upper House, Barlaston. Peter Nixon was President of
the club during the very difficult year 2020-21. On his
President’s night Peter presented Martin Kettrick with a very
well deserved Paul Harris Sapphire pin.
Martin has been in Blythe Bridge Rotary for nearly 30 years.
During this time he has raised thousands of pounds for many
charities including The Royal Marines, BLESMA (a charity
supporting Limbless Veterans), SAAFA (“The Armed Forces
Charity”), Victim Support and Blythe Bridge Rotary.
Martin now gives inspirational talks to students - this BLESMA
initiative reached out to over 30,000 students in the year pre
COVID-19 and the project continued online during the COVID-
19 restrictions.

Martin also organised a fortnightly food collection for a local
foodbank since the beginning of COVID-19 lockdown and has
done much more to help in the community.

In 2016, Martin was awarded the British Empire Medal in the
Queen’s 90th birthday honours list.

5 ROTO WINTER 2021/22