Former Colliery gets a new memorial forest

On Friday 2 December, the Land Trust in partnership with charity Life for a Life came together for the opening of a new a Memorial Forest at former colliery, Frickley Country Park in South Elmsall near Doncaster.

A formal lease between The Land Trust, who own the Country Park and manage it with the help of Groundwork Northeast and Yorkshire, and Life for Life has been finalised which will allow the planting of more than 450 broadleaf memorial trees.

Life for a Life, plant trees and install memorial benches to celebrate and to commemorate loved ones, helping families and creating a lasting place for people to visit for years to come. These trees over time, will develop into established forests, creating new places for life to flourish as well as benefiting the environment.

To mark the occasion, six trees were planted to commemorate and celebrate local lives as well as the continuing growing partnership between the Land Trust and Life for Life Memorial Forest.

The first tree was planted by Kath Lindley DL, West Yorkshire Lieutenancy, in honour of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

The second and third was planted in memory of the local miners and their families, by the Mayor and Mayoress of Wakefield Council, Mayor Cllr David Jones and Mayoress and Mayor Peter Jordan, and Mayoress Lynne Mansell from South Elmsall Town Council.

The fourth was planted to celebrate and symbolise the growing partnership between Life for a Life Memorial Forests and the Land Trust, planted by Alan Carter, Chief Executive of The Land Trust and Jane Carroll, Chair of Trustees of Life for a Life Memorial Forests.

Frickley Athletic Football Club planted the fifth tree, to celebrate all the players and supporters past and present, with the final tree being planted in gratitude to all the past and present officers at West Yorkshire Police, Wakefield District Neighbourhood Policing Team.

The event was a great way to commemorate life during National Tree Week that runs from 26 November – 4 December and to highlight the start of the new tree planting season.

Miss Emma Scott, Executive Director of Life for a Life, said: “It is wonderful to be able to open this new memorial forest, at this beauty spot and offer local people a chance to celebrate and remember their loved ones within lovely surroundings. This site marks the start of our second memorial forest in growing partnership with the Land Trust and we cannot wait to bring the benefits of enhancing this environment with more trees that will not only help mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis, but also bring health benefits to local people through improvements to the park and our wider activities as a charity.”

Alan Carter, Chief Executive of the Land Trust said: “Life for a Life is a fantastic charity, and we are delighted to be working in partnership with the initiative for a second time at Frickley Country Park. The creation of a memorial forest will enhance the Country Park environment, as well as allow the local community to contribute to its growth and ultimately enjoy all of the benefits the space has to offer.”

If you would like to plant a tree at Frickley Country Park in memory of a loved one or for more information, visit www.lifeforalife.org.uk.

Life for a Life plant their memorial woodlands with native broadleaf trees which conform to the Forestry Commission guidelines. Families will be offered the option of scattering ashes with the dedication of a memorial tree.