I'd be delighted if you could make a donation to the Borders Forest Trust in memory of Ulrich Loening

I hope that in reading my account of Ulrich’s life, although it is little more than a sketch, you will feel connected with him. The account is, in the first place, for the family so some parts may be of lesser interest or meaning to readers outside family and close friends. I wrote over the winter of 2025/6 when I was feeling the loss of Ulrich acutely. For many years Ulrich had the intention to write an autobiography but he only ever made a small start. Being now also in my nineties I felt an urgency to record something of his life, quickly even if imperfectly. I hope he would be happy with this attempt.

We hope that the book might raise funds for an environmental project that Ulrich would have wanted to support. Our choice is The Borders Forest Trust. Ulrich grew up with trees and deeply appreciated the value of woodland in all its aspects. One of the major reforesting projects of BFT, the Carrifran Glen, was initiated and implemented by a lifelong friend who had been at the same school in Buckinghamshire as Ulrich. In 2000 the Carrifran was a denuded glen with one surviving Rowan tree. It is now covered with a flourishing forest of native trees which supports much wildlife. The BFT are raising funds to greatly expand the area of ecological restoration in the Border country. I am certain that Ulrich would have suggested donating to them and we hope you agree to our choice.

The top photo shows the Carrifran Glen as it is today, flourishing with native trees! Here's what it looked like devoid of trees back in in the 1990s: