Gedling Borough Council has revealed plans for a new 10-acre woodland memorial at Gedling Country Park to honour the lives lost during the coronavirus pandemic.
The new 10-acre woodland area will be an addition to the 230-acre park and is being created as part of the council’s plans to create a more sustainable environment and to continue its work to become a greener council.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke and deputy leader, Councillor Michael Payne said that residents and local businesses can get involved in helping to shape the woodland by putting forward ideas for trees species and even a name for the new woodland space.
The council has planted over 1,000 trees in the borough over recent months including an orchard within the park a few weeks ago. This new woodland would see a further 6,000 trees planted with many of the trees sourced locally.
Deputy leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor Michael Payne said: “We’re delighted to be announcing exciting plans for a new commemorative woodland at Gedling Country Park.
Over the last year, we have lost so many local people to covid and other illnesses – we want to create a place where people can go to remember those who they have lost and where local residents can enjoy our great outdoors.
As a former colliery, our beautiful Gedling Country Park is a symbol of recovery, renewal and hope – that’s what we need more than ever over the next few weeks, months and years as we build back better and stronger together.”
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “We need your help to make this woodland something special for all of our residents; we want your ideas for a name for the commemorative woodland and the species of trees you would like to see planted.
“We want to be the greenest council in the land – we are planting thousands of trees, we are a plastic clever council, we have a plastic clever café and we are moving in the right direction in terms of reducing our carbon footprint and delivering on our plans to create a more sustainable environment in Gedling.”
Great idea for a woodland to remember the victims of covid, or for that matter anyone who has died. As a suggestion, ask if anyone would like to purchase a tree and have a plaque placed underneath it in memory of a loved one. They do this at the National Memorial arboretum in staffordshire. I am sure lots of people would like their loved one to be remembered in this way. The tree would of course have to be amongst the species the council are planting.