"Trees of Hope" trail to remember the 22 people who died in the Arena attack to open to the public
People can hang messages from the branches of 28 trees planted across the city centre from Saturday 19th May 2018.
Last updated 21st May 2018
Trees are being planted across the city centre as part of a special tribute to remember the 22 people who lost their lives in the Arena attack almost a year ago.
The Japanese maples are part of a so-called "Trees of Hope Trail" which will go from Victoria Station to St Ann's Square.
From Saturday 19th May, people will be able to hang messages from the branches.
The trail, which runs to Sunday 27 May inclusive, is intended as the focus for people who want to share messages of tribute, solidarity and love.
There will be 28 Japanese maple trees which people can hang messages on using specially-designed cardboard tags.
You can get them from volunteers who will be overseeing the trees every day from 8am to 8pm - 8am to 11pm on Tuesday 22 May itself.
At the end of the Trees of Hope event, every single message will be preserved and kept – alongside tributes left last year – in an archive of the city’s response to the attack. The trees themselves will remain in the city centre.
Any other tributes which are left in public spaces will be sensitively removed at the end of each day and taken to Wythenshawe Park, where they will remain on display.
Any floral and plant tributes will be recycled once they have reached the end of their lifespans, or replanted elsewhere as appropriate. In fact, compost made from some of the floral tributes left last year will be used to help nurture the Trees of Hope.
Thousands of flowers, balloons and teddies were left in St Ann's Square (pictured above) in the days after the Arena attack in May last year.
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Last year the immediate aftermath of the Arena attack saw a spontaneous outpouring of grief, love and solidarity through the sea of tributes left in St Ann's Square. It was an incredibly moving sight which will never be forgotten by anyone who witnessed it. But it would be impossible to recreate that unique scene.
“While we recognise and respect that the anniversary is a very personal thing which people will want to mark in their own ways, we would encourage anyone who wants to leave and share tributes to do so through the Trees of Hope trail.
“It promises to be a moving and memorable sight which will help people to reflect on last year’s events. We know that the anniversary will be an incredibly difficult time for many people, especially those who lost loved ones or were badly injured. Yet we saw last year in countless good deeds, instances of compassion and refusal to give in to hatred that the worst of times can bring out the best in people. That is the hope that the Trees of Hope trail will symbolise.”
Other elements of the commemorative programme for the anniversary include a civic cathedral service and national one-minute silence at 2.30pm on 22 May, the Manchester Together – With One Voice collective singing event in Albert Square on the evening of 22 May and There Is A Light (lyric and song projection in St Ann’s Square 22-26 May)