MORE than 550 native trees and shrubs have been planted throughout Coventry’s parks and green spaces to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism.
On Monday (4), a tree planting ceremony took place at Longford Park, Foleshill that was attended by Linda Bigham, Lord mayor of Coventry and Jon Davis, Dynamic City Senior Producer Coventry City of Culture 2021.
Also present were Lady Godiva, Pru Porretta and Sarah Pearson from the Woodland Trust, and Palvinder Singh Chana, chairman of Sikh Union.
Hundreds of students from Longford Park, Grange Hurst and Joseph Cash Primary Schools planted saplings.
Praising the initiative Bigham said: “The growing of a woodland in Longford Park, began when our family noticed a faded plaque within some trees, with the words, “Recognise all the human race as one” Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
“We went on to discover that three hundred trees had been planted in 1999 by Sikh staff at Marconi as a contribution to the Millennium Forest
“From these humble beginnings, a unique partnership has developed between the Friends of Longford Park, the Sikh Union, local school children, and they City Council’s Park Wardens.
“The last few years has seen the planting of a community orchard and 1500 new trees with under planting. This will now be added to by another 550 trees this year to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.”
Chana extolled the need for preserving the environment, saying: “Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first embodiment of Divine Light in the Sikh religion, laid the foundation for our sacred vision for the environment stated: ‘Air is our Guru, water is our father, the earth is our mother. They give us life, we sleep in their laps night and day, in which the entire world plays.’ (Guru Granth Sahib p.8)*
“We honour this wisdom by believing that all humans have an intrinsic sensitivity to the natural world, and that a sustainable, more just society is possible, where water, air, land, forests, and biodiversity remain vibrant, living systems for our generation and future generations.”
The initiative is part of a wider global effort by Eco-Sikh, an environmental organisation based in Washington, USA to plant over 1 million trees around the planet to mark the 550th birth-anniversary of Guru Nanak.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)