The newest arrival at East Cheshire Hospice is a Memory Tree ready to be decorated with leaves.
Supporters can dedicate a leaf engraved with a short message to someone special.
The metal sculpture amid wild flowers in a discreet setting at the back of the Hospice is already admired by volunteer gardeners.
Among them Bob Burton, a neighbour who planted the tree with fundraiser Nik Kalka.
Fundraiser Nik Kalka (left) and gardening volunteer Bob Burton with the newly-installed Memory Tree.
Bob said: “The Memory Tree is a cracking idea and will hopefully generate income. People I know who’ve walked past say it looks like a piece of art anyway up against the wall.
“It’s a lot different than I imagined and there are small holes where leaves can be attached.
“The gardens are so serene which is how it should be round here. It’s lovely and peaceful and we have a great team of gardeners.”
Bob, a retired health and safety adviser with GMP, has volunteered at the Hospice for a year, having helped the homeless and at food banks.
A ginnel from his home of 34 years provides a cut through to the Hospice. Bob’s late brother-in-law Mel Withey was a Hospice patient.
Bob said: “I’ve always had an involvement with the charity as it’s so local. The gardeners meet every Wednesday morning, but because I live so close if I see it’s dry I can whip round and cut the grass.”
Some 400 copper, silver and bronze leaves are available and subscribers do not need a Hospice link.
A subscription is £10 a month, or £120 for a year. Employees from AstraZeneca gifted the new memorial.
The tree is easily accessible without entering the Hospice building, with parking available.
Individual Giving Fundraiser Beth England said: “Visitors can come along at any time and the gardens provide a beautiful backdrop.
“There’s privacy and with benches it’s the ideal place to reflect and remember a loved one.
“Each leaf can be inscribed with a short message if donors wish and funds raised provide vital revenue for the Hospice.”
“Your leaf will remain on the tree for a year, at which point you can choose to either renew its place for a further year or we can return the leaf to you to treasure forever.”
* To sign up to the Memory Tree visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/memory-tree.
For queries, contact amy.williams@echospice.org.uk or call 01625 665688.
Back to all newsThank you so much for choosing to support East Cheshire Hospice. You may never know how much your gift means, but we know that it will make the world of difference to our patients and their families.
