Luton has been hit hard by the pandemic resulting in around 800 deaths to date. Many could not say goodbye to their loved ones which made the grieving process even more difficult.
The Luton Peace Garden Initiative supports people’s bereavement process by helping them to plant a tree in memory of their loved ones.
The project was launched with the first-ever Tree Plantation at Wigmore Park in December 2021. Since then, nearly 665 trees have been planted.
Over 200 volunteers have joined over the last 3 months alone. They have helped plant 251 trees.
The Project Lead Sujel Miah stated, “The tree planting season will now stop until next autumn but maintenance work will be required during the spring and summer time. Although some trees may be needed replacing, most trees have withstood the extreme cold weather and scorching hot summer last year. Thanks to the efforts of our many volunteers.”
To continually care for the trees, we have also launched the ‘Peace Garden Guardians’ at Downside Primary School Assembly of 300 children. Many of them later joined in an afternoon of action mulching the trees, which was backed by Lady Jane Clifford, the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire. She encouraged nurturing the next generation of tree planters and carers. She expressed her joy that Luton Peace Garden received the special gift of the Royal Tree given as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), a unique UK-wide tree planting initiative, which was created to mark Her Majesty Late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Luton Peace Garden Initiative has wider environmental benefits such as greening up Luton by either planting orchard fruit trees or trees like Lime or Beech trees which are adaptable to Luton soil. As the county of Bedfordshire has lost an alarmingly huge number of insects and butterflies, helping the environment in this way will add to the flora & fauna cause.
We are therefore really grateful to all those who have supported the Luton Peace Garden Initiative, including the Luton Council of Faiths, and Luton & Sunni Councils of Mosques. Discover Islam, Grassroots, Community Interest Luton, Churches Together in Luton, iCare, Friends of Parks, Luton Council, Luton Rising, and Natural England.
To support the project visit; https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Peacegarden
