Under normal conditions, trees can be expected to live far longer than we do. They are, therefore, particularly appropriate as memorials.

As a former Naval officer, I was very pleased to hear of a project initiated by the Royal Navy, to plant 100 trees across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to commemorate the Gallipoli Campaign which lasted from April 1915 until January 1916 and in which 100,000 died. During the Campaign, an Aleppo Pine cone was removed from a Turkish trench on Lone Pine Ridge and one of the trees grown from it was planted at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The search is now on for suitable sites to plant the 100 trees in the project, which is jointly sponsored between Hampshire County Council and the county’s military community.

Memorial trees are still being used to remember relatives or friends. The Sweet Gum tree is one of these.

If you are interested in commissioning a drawing of a memorial tree, have a look at the Memorial Trees page and contact Ewan.