The Parks Trust receives numerous enquiries each year from people who would like a place where they can remember their loved ones, often with requests for benches or trees.
In response to this The Trust is dedicating part of Newlands, which links Campbell Park to Willen Lake, as a special place of remembrance and will initially be planting an avenue of Lime trees that will line either side of the walk, with further tree planting to follow and the creation of a wildflower meadow.
The scheme was inspired by the need for people to have more public spaces which they can use to remember loved ones together with a vision to create something special in this area and the opportunity to plant more trees in the city. Ella Magwood, Principal Landscape Architect of PRC Architecture and Planning volunteered to help create the landscape layout and visuals for the scheme.
Ella said: PRC Architecture and Planning, having been based in Milton Keynes for many years, wanted to be involved in the local community. As a Landscape Architect, volunteering for The Parks Trust has enabled me to use my knowledge and experience much more widely within Milton Keynes than would have been possible otherwise. It has been rewarding to give back to Milton Keynes and know that the Newlands Remembrance Walk project will help to build lasting memories for people for years to come."
Initial planting will begin the week of the 25th January 2021 with 48 Lime trees (Tilia Cordata ‘Winter Orange’).
The Parks Trust is an independent charity that looks after over 6,000 acres of greenspace in Milton Keynes and if members of the public would like to make a donation to help fund the scheme and remember a loved one, they can do so on The Trust’s website. Memorial benches will also be available with an engraved plaque and enquiries for these can be emailed to ops.support@theparkstrust.com.
Rob Riekie, Landscape and Operations Director of The Parks Trust, said: “We are pleased to start work on Newlands Remembrance Walk. We will be enhancing the link between Campbell Park and Willen Lake, creating a lovely avenue of Lime trees, with wildflower background, to help create a special place for people to remember their loved ones.”
Information and updates about the scheme as well as how you can donate can be found here.
