5 days ago
Seeds of trees which survived Hiroshima help build new Glasgow garden
Children from local schools have helped design the space, which was officially opened today (August 6) to mark the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima Day and to commemorate Victory over Japan Day and the end of World War Two.
The new garden, dedicated to peace, remembrance and education, is part of the global Mayors for Peace initiative which encourages the planting of hibaku trees - descendants of those which survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Japan-born Botanic Gardens curator Hiro Shimai, whose mother witnessed the Hiroshima bombing, is nurturing the gingko biloba seeds and will oversee their future planting.
Hiro Shimai (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Hiro said: 'Just after the bombing in Hiroshima in 1945, it was believed that no plants could grow for decades because of the radioactivity.
'Only some trees in the city of Hiroshima survived, and the ginkgo was one of them although it was seriously damaged. However, vigorous new shoot growth from the survivor ginkgo tree encouraged people in the city.'
North Kelvinside Primary pupils Rajveer, 10 and Jasbir, 7, with their mum (who is also a teacher at the school) Kanta Rakhra, with Daria Sato, president of the Japan Society at the University of Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Seeds collected from the survivor ginkgo tree were donated to Glasgow City Council by Mayors for Peace in 2023. The seeds successfully germinated, and the seedlings were carefully maintained by the staff members at the Botanic Gardens.
'The second generation of the ginkgo, whose mother tree experienced the nuclear disaster, would tell us the importance of peace,' said Hiro.
The garden has been developed in partnership with Glasgow CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament).
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Chairperson Jean Anderson said: 'On this momentous anniversary of 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Glasgow CND is proud that our Lord Provost has been instrumental in creating a new Peace Garden.
'It will be a place of calmness and thoughtfulness and a refuge from the conflicts that surround us.
'We hope that the future will see better times, and that Robert Burns' words will come true: man to man, the world o'er, shall brithers be for a' that.'
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Although the gingko biloba seeds will not be ready for planting for another two to three years, the garden's symbolic elements are already in place.
These include two commemorative benches with plaques acknowledging the international peace initiative, and information boards sharing the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Glasgow's commitment to peace.
(Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)
Pupils from St Charles and North Kelvinside Primary schools also contributed artwork and essays reflecting on the themes of peace, remembrance and resilience for the launch, and a digital exhibition.
Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren said the children's creative work 'helped to ensure that the voices of young Glaswegians are at the heart of this living memorial.'
She added: 'Glasgow's Peace Garden will stand as a testament to our collective commitment to peace.
'The hibaku seeds - survivors of unimaginable devastation - will grow here as living symbols of resilience and hope. Much like peace itself, they require care, patience and community effort to flourish.'
The Lord Provost said she was 'especially pleased' that young people from the area had been involved in the project.
'Their thoughtful contributions remind us that peace is not only a legacy to honour, but a responsibility to pass on,' she added.
The unveiling coincided with the General Conference of Mayors for Peace in Nagasaki, where a message from the Lord Provost is being delivered by the UK and Ireland Chapter Secretary, reaffirming Glasgow's solidarity with cities around the world committed to peace.
The launch of the Peace Garden comes ahead of a service of commemoration on VJ Day (August 15) being held at Glasgow Cathedral at 11am, to which the public are welcome.
