Help grow a living memorial to Covid victims
COUNCILS HAVE EIGHT WEEKS TO RAISE £30K FOR TRAIL OF TREES
PEOPLE are being urged to donate now to support a coronavirus memorial tree trail that needs nearly £30,000 more to be pledged in the next eight weeks.
Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council are leading the plan for 58 trees to be planted along a walk from the north side the south side of Watermead Country Park, which is jointly owned by the two councils.
The hope is the trail of hornbeam, elm, oak and other trees will be a place for reflection for everyone whose lives have been affected by the pandemic, and a place of remembrance for those whose lives have been taken by Covid-19.
However, the Watermead Memorial Walk plan is subject to the crowdfunding target of £61,078 being reached by January 31. So far - as of 4.30pm on Thursday - £32,572 had been pledged.
Nick Rushton, leader of Leicestershire County Council, said: “This year has been, and continues to be, difficult and challenging.
“This project aims to create an environmentally-conscious space that will continue to bring people together.
“In doing so, we will not only look back on 2020 as a difficult year, but as a year we pulled through by working together and supporting our communities.
“Our fund-raising target of £61,078 may seem like an ambitious goal but the city and county councils have already pledged to meet ongoing maintenance costs of £29,000, while a business, The Art Department, has made a generous pledge of £3,528.
“If we are to complete the first phase of our proposals by the end of January, we need to call on our communities and businesses to help make this plan a reality.
“All pledges of support, however large or small, will be gratefully received – and will contribute to creating something really positive for the community at the end of what has been a very difficult year.”
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby is hosting the two councils’ campaign for a memorial walk on his crowdfunding platform CrowdFund Leicester.
“2020 will be remembered as a year of dreadful loss and suffering, with the coronavirus pandemic affecting all of our lives,” he said.
“But it should also be remembered as the year when people pulled together in extraordinary ways – protecting their communities and helping each other through the difficult times.
“As 2020 comes to an end, what better way is there to show our optimism for the future than by coming
This project aims to create an environmentally conscious space that will continue to bring people together
together again to create a lasting, and living, memorial.
“The Watermead Memorial Walk is a project that has my full support. Let’s create it together – and let people in Leicester and Leicestershire enjoy it together.”
The new trees would be planted in February and March. People are being asked to pledge their donations now, although no money will be taken until February.
The minimum pledge that can be made is £2 and donations will only be taken if the campaign reaches its target by January 31.
More information about the Watermead Memorial Walk can be found on its fundraising page at