A Kirkby community therapy garden is celebrating the planting of a ‘Tree of Trees’ – a living legacy planted as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.
The Eco Therapy Garden C.I.C in Towerhill joined over 300 organisations from across the UK and nine on Merseyside who received these special trees in the nationwide initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth.
The tree, gifted in a pot embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher, becomes part of the living legacy in honour of Her Majesty, joining over a million trees already planted across the UK.
To mark the occasion, the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Mark Blundell, attended a special tree planting event alongside Eco Therapy Garden founder Angela Davies, Knowsley Council Leader Cllr Graham Morgan, Knowsley Mayor and Mayoress Cllr Eddie and Sue Connor, and local councillors Cllr Tony Brennan and Cllr Tommy Rowe.
The Eco Therapy Garden Community Interest Company was established in 2017 and works within the Kirkby community to improve the health and wellbeing of residents. It aims to tackle social isolation and mental health issues by providing a therapy garden and the combined services of talking and eco therapies.
Gardening skills and environmental conservation are promoted. The projects garden volunteers have made a Jubilee woodland trail. Further tree planting is ongoing as part of the garden’s development.
Since the pandemic the projects volunteer mental health counsellors have provided more than 700 hours of counselling to Merseyside residents, as well as offering a men’s health suicide prevention programme and online tips on managing mental health.
Knowsley Council Leader Cllr Graham Morgan said: “The community therapy garden is doing some fantastic work supporting the health and wellbeing of residents in a supportive, outdoor environment, and is a very deserving recipient of this special commemorative tree.”
Eco Therapy Garden Founder Angela Davies said: “We are very honoured to be chosen for our contribution to the Knowsley and wider Merseyside community for our work in managing mental health, reducing social isolation and promoting environmental conservation.”