Life for Life charity’s tree-mendous effort

PRIDE . . . Mr Armstrong-Kersh, fourth from right, with other war veterans at the tree planting

A MEMORIAL forest charity marked a milestone by planting a tree in the name of the Queen.

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

To mark the 10th anniversary a ceremony witnessed the latest tree planting, which opened an extension to the charity’s first site, Kings Meadow, at Strinesdale.

An evening of musical entertainment was also held at Manchester Grammar School and was well-attended, with Oldham’s Mayor and Mayoress, councillors Jim McArdle and Kay Knox, present.

Since its inception, 2,182 trees have been planted in memorial forests in the Oldham area, and money handed out to local causes, including war veterans associations amounts to £530,594.

The charity 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 in Chadderton, the charity continues to expand with three new sites to open in Manchester 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, split between the charity’s running costs and donations to good causes.

Chief executive Norman Armstrong-Kersh said: “It went extremely well and we had two wonderful events. I’m very humble to support so many other health-related charities.

“We send regular, quarterly donations to 22 hospices across the UK, many of which are for terminally-ill children. We are very proud to be able to do that.

“We will always remain not-for-profit and non-denominational. We have built on these two major tenets and are putting the money into the community.

“I believe in my heart of hearts that every town and city in the UK should have a Life for a Life Memorial Forest. The need is there. We are extremely proud it all started in Oldham.”