The beautiful double-millennium olive tree in Roquebrune Cap Martin has won the Coup de Coeur 2023 Tree of the Year award in the national Tree of the Year competition, organized by Terre Sauvage magazine in partnership with Arbre Vert.
EIPACA students from 4ème2 and S3B entered the tree into the competition as part of a two-year nature and literature project, having received permission from the Mairie of the commune. The Mayor, Patrick Cesari, kindly invited them to the prizegiving ceremony which took place on Thursday April 18th. We were welcomed first in the village, at the foot of the grand old olive, then afterwards at the town hall.
The students were praised by Mr Cesari for their commitment to the environment and he sincerely thanked them for choosing the magnificent olive tree in the heart of the commune, which prides itself on proactively working to protect its stunning natural environment. In the morning, students recited poems in both English and French for children from the Rataou primary school and an interesting exchange followed. Representatives from the National Forestry Organisation also spoke about their role in preserving nature. In the afternoon, after the official ceremony in the presence of the Mayor and elected officials, students read a letter from Jean Giono. They then read out The Declaration of Tree Rights, composed at the National Assembly on April 5, 2019 by the association ARBRES. The Mayor immediately pledged to add the declaration to the town’s charter, a symbolic gesture aimed to encourage other municipalities to take a more active interest in tree conservation.
Finally, we were given a beautiful work of art made from olive wood in recognition of the students’ engagement.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful team at the mairie of Roquebrune Cap Martin for their warm welcome and generosity; the day was unforgettable for all involved. The stimulating meeting at the foot of the ancient olive tree inspires us all to continue respecting and protecting our oldest friends. Trees have lived longer than any of us, patient witnesses to the fortunes and follies of humankind. They protect us and provide shade, breathable air and biodiversity. Yet they cannot protect us if we do not protect them.
A student asked how long the two-thousand-year-old olive tree will live. The answer was ‘’As long as humans take care of it.’’
Students from 4ème2 and S3B would like to thank M Patrick Cesari, Florence, Maël, and all the other elected representatives, and special mention to Emmanuel the photographer, who captured the heart and soul of the tree in his beautiful pictures.
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