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Dedicate in memory: remember a loved one with trees and woodland

Charlie Mellor

Content manager

Dedicating a tree or woodland provides a living, growing memorial to a loved one and a poignant way of remembering them. Three of our supporters tell us about their dedications and what they mean to them.

Credit: WTML

Lesley's story

Lesley dedicated a tree in memory of her husband Eric who passed away in 2012. She chose Fordham Hall Estate as it's close to where the couple were from and easy to visit.

After dedicating the tree, Lesley wanted to do everything she could for Eric. So she dedicated two benches and two acres in the same wood: one to Eric and one to other dearly departed relatives.

Lesley said: “Eric always loved trees and wildlife. He had worked as a parks inspector and had even planted part of his garden to be the perfect spot for wild animals.

“On one occasion I spoke to a lady who was sitting on the bench with her dog, and who said everyone in the village had been asking who the people named on the benches were. After I told her she said she’d look after the benches for me, which was absolutely lovely."

Credit: Paul Glendell / WTML

Emma's story

Emma dedicated a quarter acre of woodland to her husband Graham after discovering the woods where he used to jog were owned by the Trust. Graham was a typical ‘outdoors’ person, who loved walking, jogging, and spending time in the woods.

Emma and her two young daughters picked out a dedicated area as their special place to remember a much-loved husband and father.

"We love going down to see it and remember our lovely man, it is a place of beauty and we feel close to him there. It is a place to smile, cry, and remember,” Emma said.

Credit: WTML

Gemma's story

Gemma had never considered dedicating woodland until she realised her brother’s dream.

Rob loved woodland and had always dreamed of owning his own patch. To celebrate his memory, Gemma and her family set about fundraising to dedicate areas in both Heartwood Forest and Ipsden Wood.

Rob would have been 40 the year the dedications were made, so Gemma set up a fund to get him a birthday present he would have loved. She said Heartwood in particular would have inspired Rob in his music, art and creative musings and the family have visited this special place together.

"I like to remind people that life is precious and that makes trees precious because we’d not exist if we didn’t have trees. And that’s what Rob felt too,” Gemma added.

Make your own dedication

Dedications can be made in selected woods across the UK, from single trees and whole areas of woodland to personalised benches and marker posts.

Start by choosing one of our available woods on the interactive map, select an area for your dedication and add a personal message for your dedication certificate. To say thank you for your dedication, we’ll send a special pack containing your certificate, a map and a wood information sheet. This will help you plan your visit and learn about the history and wildlife of your chosen wood.

Dedications start from a suggested donation of £20 for a single tree and £250 for a quarter acre of woodland. 

Dedicate a tree

By dedicating a tree or a leafy glade in one of our woods, you’ll leave a living legacy for the person you love, and support people and wildlife for generations to come. 

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