The Duke of Westminster launched a Life for a Life Memorial Forest at the Countess of Chester Country Park, coincidentally on the poignant anniversary of the 7/7 terrorist atrocity in London.
Life for a Life is a charity that helps facilitate the planting of memorial trees, benches and plaques to commemorate loved ones.
On Tuesday, July 7, the duke launched the charity’s latest memorial site, which it hopes will grow into a forest cherished by the family and friends of those who have lost someone special.
The Upton-based Countess of Chester County Park is managed and maintained by national land management charity the Land Trust, whose chief executive Euan Hall helped unveil a commemorative carving of a tree, by artist Geoff Whitley, accompanied by the duke and Life for a Life chief executive Norman Armstrong-Kersh.
Young trees were also planted by His Grace, Michael Hemmerdinger, chair of governors at the nearby Countess of Chester Hospital, Colonel Debbie Telford, commanding officer ay 208 Field Hospital Liverpool and Land Trust chief executive Mr Hall.
Mr Hall commented: “The Life for a Life Memorial Forest is sure to benefit from the surroundings of the Countess of Chester Country Park, a welcoming haven of greenery that has already attained a popular community landmark status.
“The potential of the Memorial Forest to grow and develop over time for the benefit of so many people fills us with excitement and we look forward to working in partnership with the Life for a Life charity.”
Life for a Life chief executive Norman Armstrong-Kersh said: “Life for Life is now celebrating its 16th year and the successful launch of this new memorial forest in Chester, which is located within the beautiful and newly developed Countess of Chester Country Park, is another phase in the planned expansion of the charity. We can’t thank The Land Trust enough for the support they have offered us in the run up to the opening of the memorial forest and it is hoped that this will mark the beginning of a great partnership for years to come.
“His Grace, the Duke of Westminster, has been a keen and worthy supporter of Life for a Life for over 12 years in the realisation of knowing that the charitable funds generated by the charity are donated back into the community for the benefit of people that don’t enjoy the best of health and to assist people to end their days in comfort and with some degree of dignity.”
Life for a Life is a not-for-profit nondenominational charity that offers people the chance to commemorate their loved ones by planting a tree in their memory in one of many self maintained memorial forests across the North West and South West of England.
But people can also plant trees in celebration of a happy event such as a birth or wedding anniversary.
Funds raised are then donated to health-related organisations such as hospices and hospitals.
Trees, each seven or eight years old, cost £595 which includes a plaque featuring a 30-word dedication, the interment of a loved one’s ashes (if required), a certificate of plantation and an inscription within a book of remembrance. Species available to plant at this location are English oak, silver birch, mountain ash and cherry.
People can find more information about Life for a Life by contacting the charity on 0161 624 2299, emailing info@lifeforalife.org.uk or by visiting their website www.lifeforalife.org.uk . There is an information pack available.
