Decade of growth for tree charity

£530,500 raised

THE memorial forest charity, Life for a Life, marks its 10th anniversary this week.

It was exactly a decade ago on September 10 that the charity planted its first tree at Strinesdale Country Park, on behalf of the Queen Mother.

Since then, 2,182 trees have been planted in memorial forests in the Oldham area, and money handed out to local causes amounts to £530,594.

The success of Life for a Life prompted the charity to spread its wings, and it now has a total of 40 planting sites throughout the country, including six in the Oldham area.

Besides Strinesdale, they are at Dovestone Reservoir, Greenfield; Tandle Hill Country Park, Royton; Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Royton; Salmon Fields, Royton; and at Calf Lane on the Mossley/Greenfield border.

People pay £550 in return for a tree, planted with a 25-year guarantee, and a certificate, and the fee includes a £100 donation to a local charity.

Based at Chadderton Court, 451 Middleton Road, Chadderton, Life for a Life is still expanding, and has three new sites lined up in the Manchester area which will open later this year.

In total, more than 6,570 memorial trees have been planted in the last 10 years, generating a total of £3 million, which has been split between the charity’s running costs and donations to good causes.

It hands out money on a regular basis mainly to hospices, including Dr Kershaw’s at Royton, but also to other health-related charities.

Life for a Life will celebrate its anniversary with an evening of musical entertainment at Manchester Grammar School

It will be attended by Oldham’s Mayor and Mayoress, councillors Jim McArdle and Kay Knox.

They will also attend a ceremony on Saturday to open an extension to the charity’s first site, Kings Meadow, at Strinesdale, when a tree will be planted in the name of the Queen at 11am.