Commemorative woodland to be planted in Wokingham
The public space will honour those that died during the pandemic
A commemorative woodland is set to be planted in Wokingham Borough to honour those who lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic.
The council is poised to agree a lasting memorial at the south-eastern corner of Rooks Nest Farm in Finchampstead parish, with work hopefully starting in September and finishing in early 2024.
The 7.7-hectare plot lies immediately north of California Country Park and would become an extension of it. It would be planted with about 6,600 native trees and additional wildflower seeding.
A sculpture or similar memorial would be installed with two benches and footpaths to make this new public space welcoming to all. It would be in easy reach as the traffic-free greenway from Arborfield Green to Finchampstead runs along the southern edge.
Cllr Clive Jones, the council leader, said:
“Having come up with and proposed this idea, I’m delighted to see it come closer to reality. For every death in the pandemic, many more people were dealt the cruel blow of a sudden, unexpected loss which they will carry for the rest of their lives.
“While we offered a wide range of support to our residents, many in the borough are still coming to terms with the past few years’ events. Even for those whose friends and relatives thankfully remained well, it was a deeply frightening and unsettling period.
“It’s important that people have a peaceful space to reflect on these things and to know that, as a community, we stand together and recognise those who are still grieving as well as those who are no longer with us.
“The benefits will last for many generations, even for those not yet born, as time spent in nature improves people’s wellbeing generally. Given this and the positive environmental impact, it’s a sound investment which will more than pay for itself.”
At a meeting of its decision-making executive next Tuesday (21 March), the council is set to agree a budget of up to £188,385 towards planning and implementing the scheme.
The upfront cost for supplying and planting the trees can be funded through the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund, which has committed £300,000 to various forms of planting across the borough.
For more about the borough’s public green spaces including its country parks and nature parks, visit www.wokinghamcountryside.co.uk.