Canary Wharf Group has marked the Jewish Festival of Tu B’Shvat by planting a tree in Jubilee Park on 9 February.

The planting marks the beginning of the ‘new year’ for trees, occurring on the 15th day of the month of Shvat. Scholars believe the festival originally marked the emergence of spring; it is also used for calculating the correct time of the year for tithing produce.

Danny Seliger, Associate Director – Administration at Canary Wharf Group, and organiser of the event, said: “The Canary Wharf community includes a very diverse range of religious faiths. Maintaining traditional religious festivals such as Tu B’Shvat emphasises that Canary Wharf is not just a place to work, it helps to sustain the diverse range of cultures and activities in the local community.”

As well as planting trees, the festival is a way for Jews to symbolically bind themselves to their former homeland by eating food common to Israel.

Following the tree planting by Daniel Shaw, Director of Market Risk Management - HSBC, a Lunch and Learn reception sponsored by Canary Wharf Group was held at Clifford Chance LLP at 10 Upper Bank Street where Alastair Goldrein of Clifford Chance spoke and explained the significance of the festival.

Guests were presented with a Tu B’Shvat package of dried and fresh fruit. A consignment of these fruit packages have also been sent to various Jewish Care Centres and individuals around East London for distribution to their members.

Notes to Editor:

1) Images are available on request.

About Canary Wharf Group plc

The prime business function of CWG is the building and leasing of Grade A office and retail space at its 97 acre estate in East London (“the Estate”). Over the last twenty years it has constructed more office space in London than any other property group totalling over 14 million sq. ft of commercial space. The development now comprises 33 office buildings and over 200 shops, bars and restaurants within four retail malls. It also has a conference and banqueting centres, two Docklands Light Railway stations, a Jubilee line station, car parks and approximately 20 acres of landscaped open spaces.

CWG owns completed properties amounting to approximately 7.9 million sq ft. CWG also owns and controls the retail space (approximately 740,000 sq ft), Wintergardens (40,000 sq ft) and public parking, (approx. 1.5m sq ft) as well as the roads (totalling 6.8 km) and parks and open spaces on the Estate (totalling 382,900 sq ft) in addition to land held for future development. It is through this ownership and the management of the entire 97 acre Estate that CWG controls the integrity of the Estate which enhances the value of the whole.