Fung shui grove rises from ashes of hill fire

More than 2,000 trees were planted in the hills behind Ho Sheung Heung village in Sheung Shui yesterday to replace fung shui woods destroyed by a hill fire several years ago.

The first public fung shui plantation, covering about 5,000 square metres, was finished in three hours through the efforts of more than 130 villagers and volunteers from the Conservancy Association.

An assistant conservation manager with the association, Katie Chick Hiu-lai, said the planting programme would connect the site with neighbouring fung shui woods to form a 3-hectacre forest.

A total of 27 native tree species were selected for planting, including incense, ivy and Fagaceae.

Ms Chick said the programme aimed to educate the public on the importance of fung shui woods, which protect villages from landslides and were cooling in summer.

Villagers also benefited economically by selling fruit and medicines harvested from the woods. Most villagers believe in fung shui, which suggests a location with hills at the back and sea at the front brings luck.