Mangaluru : Members of the Mangalore Bicycle Club celebrated the fifth anniversary of the club founding day in a manner suitable to what they stand for—preserving the nature and conserving the environment—by planting 50 saplings of different varieties of trees and undertaking the responsibility of their growth.

Nearly hundred cyclists, who assembled at the City Corporation Circle at Lal Bagh early Sunday morning, pedalled towards Baikampady Industrial Area in Mangaluru and converged on the Prakash Offset Printers’ premises, which belongs to one of the members, Anand Prabhu. As they regrouped themselves, Lions district past governor K.C. Prabhu and environmentalist Dinesh Nayak, addressed the gathering.

Mr. Prabhu commended the riders and said that more Mangalureans should come forward for such initiatives. Mr. Nayak spoke about the medicinal values of saplings that were ready to be planted.

He said that fruit-bearing trees too were important for the conservation of environment as they were the ones sustaining the fauna in the environment. The saplings were provided by the Forest Department.

Later, one plant each was taken by two members, who planted them along the boundary line of the premises.