SMETHWICK, UK—Sikhs from Sandwell and Birmingham come together to celebrate Sikh Environment Day, the start of the Sikh New Year (Nanakshahi 547) and Birth Anniversary of the 7th Guru Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji.
One of Europe’s largest and most prominent Gurdwara’s, Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick has teamed up with the Canal & River Trust to do their part for the environment.
Smethwick is a heavily urbanised area and as such can be very crowded, polluted and noisy, The canal and adjacent land, by contrast, is a haven of peace and tranquillity and is abounding in wildlife and natural habitats. It’s just a 5 minute walk from one to the other.
We are holding a special event for the Sikh Environment Day on March 14th (Saturday) 2015.
The day will consist of establishing an orchard including many native fruit trees such as apples, pears and plums. These will not only provide a food source for the local wildlife but would be freely available to anyone who wishes to pick them. We will also install bird and bat boxes in the mature trees on the site.
The day will run from 10am to 3pm meeting at the Smethwick Pump House off Brass House Lane for an introduction and safety briefing after which gloves, high visibility tabards and tools will be provided.
The day will be open to as many people as wish to join us. The more the merrier!
No special skills are required just an enthusiasm for improving the local environment.
Malkit Singh President of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick said “It’s our local area and we should all help look after it and be proud to be part of a clean and green Smethwick. This is a special day for the Sikhs as it also marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year (Nanakshahi 547) and Birth Anniversary of the 7th Guru Sri Guru Har Rai Ji who had a keen interest for the welfare of the environment and animals”.
It is noteworthy that the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick’s building has been build to a Breeam very good standard. Breeam sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognised measures of a building’s environmental performance.
Volenteers will be meeting up outside of the Guru Nanak Gurdwara Smethwick at 9:45am and then proceed to the Pump House on Brasshouse Lane to commence the works.
