Families in a west Suffolk town have remembered their loved ones by planting trees in their memory.
The idea is Brandon in Bloom’s latest scheme and has seen six trees planted along the flint wall at the Wedge on Thetford Road.
The fruit trees - including apple and cherry- have been sponsored by families in memory of their loved ones.
Kathryn Swan, 32, who lived in Brandon with her husband Nigel and four children, died in July 2016.
Her family, including her mother Trudy Staines, said: “It’s because of her love of the countryside, forest and her new home town we wanted to have a living memorial that the children could see. It would be lovely to think she was watching the events of the tree planting by her family.”
Rachel Sobiechowski, who started Brandon in Bloom, said the scheme has been well received.
“We planted two trees at the beginning of last year at a different site and that went down really well,” she said. “People adopted them and have been looking after them.
“We wanted it to carry on and wanted to plant more trees around Brandon but funding is difficult so sponsorship allows us to buy them.”
The trees were planted in December and earlier this month on land adopted by the group from Brandon Town Council.
Angie Jordan said: “I’ve bought a tree in memory of my parents and sister. It is also a new start in Brandon for myself, so I dedicated this tree to my loved ones so I can go somewhere special in Brandon in memory of my family.”
The group hopes to put a bench or sculpture at the site in the future and are currently looking into another site to plant dedication trees.
Tree sponsors Terry and Clea Newell said they have taken part in the scheme as Mr Newell’s grandparents wanted their ashes to be scattered under their fruit tree at home - but it wasn’t possible.
They said: “We as a family love having somewhere that we can visit, that’s central, local and they both would have approved of. We would recommend this to everyone as a fitting memorial.”
A growing group with 28 members, Brandon in Bloom aims to involve the community in brightening up the town.
Last September 9,000 daffodils - one for each resident - were planted by the team. Additionally, 9,000 crocus and 8,400 native bulbs - including snowdrops, English bluebells and wild garlic - were also planted in 32 areas.
The whole community was involved with planting done by residents, schools, day care centres and churches.
The snowdrops should flower later this month while the rest will bloom in June.
For more information about the trees or the group email info@brandoninbloom.co.uk or visit Brandon in Bloom on Facebook.
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