Music Legend Supports Woodland Restoration in Northern Ireland
Music icon Nile Rodgers has commended the "inspiring" efforts of young volunteers dedicated to restoring woodlands in Northern Ireland, following his participation in a tree planting event near Londonderry.
Earlier this month, Rodgers, known for his work with Chic, and his partner Nancy Hunt joined volunteers to plant 30 native trees in the Faughan Valley area.
This planting initiative was part of the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland. The project was supported by a £35,000 donation from the couple's We Are Family Foundation (WAFF).
Rodgers expressed admiration for the dedication shown by the young people involved in the woodland restoration efforts.
"Our team felt a deep connection while planting those 30 trees in the Faughan Valley," he said.
"The young people at WAFF and the people we met from the Trust are inspiring. Standing on the ground that will become the We Are Family Grove in Northern Ireland, I felt a strong sense of hope.
"We are family, and together we're making better choices for our future."
Rodgers added: "Nothing but love for The Woodland Trust on their 30th anniversary."
Woodland Trust's Work in Faughan Valley
A significant portion of Northern Ireland's ancient woodlands is located throughout the Faughan Valley in County Londonderry.
John Martin, Director of Woodland Trust Northern Ireland, highlighted the organization's two decades of work to reconnect fragmented forest areas.
"We are grateful to Nile Rodgers and the We Are Family Foundation for their amazing support for our native woodland," Martin said.
With ancient woodland covering only 0.04% of Northern Ireland's land, Martin emphasized that the funding from WAFF is vital for the Woodland Trust's ongoing efforts to restore and create native woodland.
A Music Legend's Enduring Influence
Nile Rodgers, co-founder of Chic and a Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, is recognized as one of the most successful and influential figures in the music industry.
Over a 50-year career, he has produced numerous hits with Chic and Sister Sledge and collaborated with artists such as Diana Ross, David Bowie, Duran Duran, and Daft Punk.
Darren Moorcroft of the Woodland Trust remarked on Rodgers' involvement, stating,
"It's not every day that you get to plant a tree with a music legend but then the work here in the Faughan Valley is so inspirational."
The Faughan Valley's woodland network includes Burntollet Wood, Oaks Wood, Killaloo Wood, and Brackfield Farm Wood.
