TREES of remembrance to stand as living memorials to the impact of Covid-19 have been planted in three communities across Teesdale.
Residents old and young came together at St Mary’s Parish Church, in Barnard Castle, for the first official tree planting ceremony organised by Barnard Castle Rotary Satellite E-Club. It followed a suggestion by Rotarian Godfrey Irving, who lost a brother to the virus.
The trees have been planted for all victims of the pandemic.
Colin Dunnighan, from Barnard Castle Rotary, said: “The planting of a tree is living memorial to those people who were and continue to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Barnard Castle mayor Cllr Rima Chatterjee officially planted the rowan tree in the grounds of St Mary’s and the Revd Canon Alec Harding gave a short service in St Mary’s when residents were invited to add their own prayers to trees inside the church. Teesdale School sixth form students Kieran Brownless and Amelia Dupuy, acting as consorts to Cllr Chatterjee, planted poppy seeds at the base of the tree.
Residents gathered at Holy Trinity Church, in Eggleston, on Thursday, October 28, for the planting of a weeping cherry tree when the Revd Alison Wallbank gave a short service. Church warden Wendy Greenfield planted the tree, which was chosen for its spring blossom.
Then on Friday, October 29, residents in Cockfield gathered at the Glebe Community Garden, opposite St Mary’s Church, for the final planting of a rowan.
Revd Lloyd Russell Evans gave a short service and led prayers before for Alison Chapman, verger at St Mary’s Church, officially planted the tree. Mr Russell said: “The Rotary has given a lot of thought to those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
“It is fitting that we can remember those that we lost and that we have an important reminder of what we have lost.”
