Luton Rising are proud to be supporting a fantastic new community initiative to remember those in our town who have lost their lives to Covid-19.
The Peace Garden initiative is created to support families that have lost loved ones due to the pandemic. The Peace Garden will have a dedicated space in Wigmore Park to help people through the bereavement process. The project is being led by Sujel Miah and Ryad Khodabocus.
The aim of the Peace Garden is to give families who have lost members of their family to the pandemic an opportunity to plant a tree. The trees will be planted by volunteers and the family members of the people who lost their lives to Covid-19. The first community planting event of the tree will take place on 18th December 2021.
“The Peace Garden initiative is about bringing communities together in our shared sense of grief and hope for the future,” said Project Co-ordinator Sujel Miah. There will be 70 orchard type trees planted in an area adjacent to the existing allotments and 150 park type species to be planted at the north eastern area of the park (near to the relocated orchid planting).
Cllr Javeria Hussain, Chair of Luton Rising, said: “Luton Rising is supporting the Peace Garden initiative by match funding up to £10,000 because we believe in giving back to our community. Since the pandemic started in 2020 Luton has lost 630 Lutonians the Peace Garden initiative will give people the opportunity to cherish the memory of those people no longer with us.
“You can take part in planting a tree even if you have not lost a loved one by making a contribution of £50 to help plant a tree.
“Planting a tree for every life lost to Covid-19 is a lovely gesture of kindness to show the people that lost their lives to Covid-19 will never be forgotten their memory and legacy will live on through the contribution of planting a tree.”
As the project grows it will coincide with the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. We believe it is important to protect the environment. This is done by making sure we respect and preserve the environment ensuring prudent use of natural resources promoting the protection and enhancement of biodiversity. Trees are so important because they are essential to life and the longest living species on earth. They are very special because they give us a link between the past, present and future.
