11th December 2006

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Caption: Beth Lamon, Brett Campbell, Estates Officer, Professor  Lester Lamon, Professor  Peter Roebuck

Twenty new oak trees were planted in the University arboretum this week thanks to the generosity of Professor Peter Roebuck and Professor Lester Lamon.

Professor Peter Roebuck, former Provost of the Coleraine campus, donated his recent retirement gift from his fellow Senior Officers for the purchase of nineteen trees for the University. 

His friend and colleague, Professor Lester Lamon from Indiana University at South Bend, who is currently on a sabbatical at UU, also donated a new tree to the arboretum.

The two men have been friends for over a quarter of a century, since Professor Lamon came to Coleraine as a Leverhulme Visiting Research Fellow in 1978-79. 

“The autumn period just, before Christmas, has always been regarded as the best time to plant trees,” explains Professor Roebuck, who retired from his Provostship in January.

 “The University campus at Coleraine is already home to over 90,000 trees. This week eleven more oaks were planted around the perimeter of the cricket pitch.  As the oaks develop, surrounding trees and shrubs, which are nearing the end of their healthy life, will be cleared, leaving the oaks to dominate a central space on the campus.” 

Professor Roebuck spearheaded the Millennium Arboretum project during his time as Provost of the Coleraine campus.

Officially opened in 2002, the six-site arboretum is the only one of its kind in the UK or Ireland and the first in Northern Ireland for over half a century.  

For further information, please contact:

Trina Porter
Telephone: 028 71675511
Email: Trina Porter