Thame pub duo help save the wilds of Kenya

TWO pub managers from Thame are just back from Kenya after doing their bit to help save the frontiers of the Maasai Mara Reserve, one of the natural wonders of the world. Evelin Rae, manager of The Thatch, and her number two, Serena Toh, visited the country as part of a 12-strong team sent by their parent company Peach to help conserve this increasingly fragile part of Africa.

Serena Toh and Eveline Rae take a break on their great adventure to Kenya to help plant a forest

Evelin and Serena flew to Kenya on January 25, and drove out to the Maasai Mara, reaching the remote Enonkishu Conservancy on the northern boundary of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Here they planted 20,000, two inch trees, together with a fence around them to protect the conservancy, and help create what’s been termed the ‘Last Line of Defence’ for an area of land under growing threat.

As well as planting a forest in a week, they also went to a cattle market to buy a cow as part of a project, to promote sustainable farming, and lived under canvas, hiking and spending time exploring this amazingly beautiful and unspoilt region.

“All in all I think it was one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences and one that will stay with me forever,” said Evelin, manager of The Thatch. “There were just 12 of us, in Landrovers, making our own way, and sometimes getting lost, heading for the greatest adventure of our lives.

“Meeting the people was I think the high point for me. The friendliness and serenity of Kenyans is amazing. Even when we went to a cattle market to buy a cow, the reaction we got from the people there was exactly the same as if they were selling a cow to their neighbour – we were treated as friends.

“Also it was fantastic to hear from the Maasai people the difference they are trying to make in their way of life and why they are working with the conservancy on projects that protect their land and their heritage. We planted three fields of trees to help and I wish we could have done more, but I think us coming back and talking about it in our pubs will make the biggest difference. I know Serena and I will both be telling people in the pub about it for a long time, in the hope of opening their eyes too to part of the world that really needs our support.”

Locals and pub guests can still support Evelin and Serena, the Last Line of Defence and the Enonkishu Conservancy by contributing via www.peachfoundation.co.uk. They can also get involved simply by ordering the pub’s Caesar Salad when they visit The Thatch; for every salad ordered, the pub donates 25p to The Peach Foundation to help fund education, sport and conservation in Africa.

The Thatch is at 29-30 Lower High Street, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2AA. Tel: 01844 214340
http://www.thethatchthame.co.uk/

SOURCE: Contributed