Wrea Green Covid memorial woodland thriving five years on
A memorial woodland set up on a farm in memory of people who died of coronavirus is flourishing five years on from the first lockdown.More than 1,200 trees were planted in the Remembrance Woods at Blackburns Farm in Wrea Green, Lancashire, to help people pay tribute to a loved one at a time when groups were not permitted gather together and attendance at funerals was restricted.Farm manager Kirsty Cropper said it had become a special place for families and friends to get together."They still visit those trees now and it was kind of a place to remember but also celebrate life," she said.
She told BBC North West Tonight: "We are not a graveyard - it is more a space to come and think about the people you have love and lost."Bernard Pendleton, chairman of the RHS North West in Bloom competition, volunteered to plant some of the trees at Blackburns Farm during lockdown.He said it was a long-lasting tribute and would be a "wildlife oasis" in years to come. "As the trees continue to grow and develop the whole green space and the nature areas and habitats will be absolutely superb," Mr Pendleton said.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
29-05-2025
- BBC News
Lancashire: 'Despicable' sex offender tried to blame 'fake twin'
A "despicable" paedophile who tried to cover up his crimes against young boys by blaming an imaginary twin brother has been Sullivan, 32, of no fixed abode, told the lie after he was confronted in Lancashire last year by the children's discovered Sullivan did not have a twin, and further found out that he had an existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order following a previous conviction. Lancashire Police said Sullivan, formerly of Blackpool, was jailed for 12 years for rape, several sexual offences against children, and possessing indecent images. Sullivan was also sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 23 May for raping a child aged under 13 and sexually assaulting a child in the Kent area in Constable Sam Schofield said: "Sullivan is a despicable individual who committed abhorrent crimes against children."Sullivan believed he was being "cunning" but "thanks to the inquisitive nature of the parents, his lies were uncovered and began to unravel".The 32-year-old paedophile has also been ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for will also be banned indefinitely from having unsupervised contact with children, and have his internet access limited. 'Began to unravel' Parents of Sullivan's victims confronted him with concerns about his previous offending, Lancashire Police told them those crimes had been committed by his twin brother, who had since killed the parents looked into Sullivan's claim and discovered it to be bogus, they reported him to police. Detectives found Sullivan had sexually assaulted a young also discovered more than 1,300 indecent images of children on his were videos, with more than 700 classified as being of the most severe category. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- BBC News
Replacement mobile classroom at Ballasalla Primary School backed
Plans for a double mobile classroom at a primary school in the south of the Isle of Man to accommodate growing pupil numbers have been the plans a portable cabin would house two classrooms and toilet facilities at Ballasalla Primary School to replace the existing community cabin units on the application replaces approval last year for a single classroom, to include a space for pupils who require a quiet breakout area away from the classroom for a unit on the site was granted on a permanent basis. In 2017 plans were approved for the reconstruction of the Clagh Vane Estate which replaced 41 homes with 52 2019 plans were approved and construction began on 282 new homes in the Reayrt Mie residential development. 'Temporary structures' The Department for Education, Sports and Culture, which submitted the application, said that given the rising number on roll and the specific needs of the school, a double classroom was deemed necessary rather than a single classroom was needed for September, and the school roll had increased steadily from 95 in 2019-20 to 167 in September 2024, with permanent capacity at the school of 131, the application planning officer who recommended its approval said the government seemed to be utilising mobile classrooms "quite a lot", however "we are where we are with funding".While it was "not the preferred option" given the proposed use "where more permanent solutions should be found rather than relying on temporary structures", the proposals were considered "acceptable" in terms of use and visual impact, the planning officer Committee member Peter Whiteway said it was "a shame" there was "such a massive residential development in the area" with a school that was "inadequate" for the comments, the application was approved by the committee. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
BBC News
01-05-2025
- BBC News
Moor Park: Work starts on revamp of Preston's oldest park
Work has started on the £3.9m revamp of a city's oldest Lake at Moor Park in Preston is being de-silted and extended "to restore it to its former glory" .A long-forgotten bridge there when the park was formed in 1833 is also being rebuilt, Preston City Council said, while the Grade II* listed park will also get an improved playground, a better football changing pavilion and a wildflower meadow will also be overhaul is part of the £20m the city council received from the previous government's Levelling Up fund. The works around the lake will see the de-silting and extension of the waterbody to its original size as proposed by Edward Milner, the original designer of the park. In addition, footpaths and railings surrounding the lake will be upgraded, and the Serpentine Bridge will be Taylor, interim director of environment and property at the city council, said the work was "essential" as part of a significant effort to preserve the lake and protect the surrounding said the project would "revitalise the park, enhancing it as a welcoming space for both the local community and wildlife to enjoy for years to come".The works are set to be completed by next year. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
