Poignant 'Remembrance Walk' to be created in Milton Keynes for people grieving the loss of loved ones

Planting will start next week and there will be an avenue of lime trees, along with a wildflower meadow, to provide a tranquil and scenic place for people grieving the loss of a loved one.

Bereaved families can also pay for an engraved plaque on memorial bench, or they can make a donation to the project.

The Parks Trust says it receives numerous enquiries each year from people who would like a place where they can remember a loved one, and there are often requests for benches or trees.

In response to this, the Trust is dedicating part of Newlands, which links Campbell Park to Willen Lake, as a special place of remembrance,

The scheme was inspired by the need for people to have more public spaces which they can use to remember loved ones together with a vision to create something special in this area.

Ella Magwood, principal landscape architect from PRC Architecture and Planning, volunteered to help create the landscape layout and visuals for the scheme.

She said: "PRC Architecture and Planning, having been based in Milton Keynes for many years, wanted to be involved in the local community. As a landscape architect, volunteering for The Parks Trust has enabled me to use my knowledge and experience much more widely within Milton Keynes than would have been possible otherwise.

"It has been rewarding to give back to Milton Keynes and know that the Newlands Remembrance Walk project will

help to build lasting memories for people for years to come."

Initial planting will begin from January 25 with 48 lime trees of the Tilia Cordata ‘Winter Orange’ variety.

If members of the public are invited make a donation to help fund the scheme and remember a loved one. They can this on The Parks Trust’s website . Enquiries about memorial benches with an engraved plaque can be emailed to [email protected].

Rob Riekie, landscape and operations director of The Parks Trust said: “We are pleased to start work on Newlands Remembrance Walk. We will be enhancing the link between Campbell Park and Willen Lake, creating a lovely avenue of Lime trees, with wildflower background, to help create a special place for people to remember their loved ones.”