Chani loves her local green space – Victoria Park. When her husband asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she asked for a tree. Our Celebration Tree Sponsorship scheme made this possible…
Beauty in diversity
Victoria Park in Finchley has over 160 tree species in a relatively small space. It’s a wonder to walk through, especially for tree enthusiasts. From magnolias to redwoods to acers, a walk through these 7 hectares of land is like a whistle stop tour of world trees.
It was Chani’s wish to add another beautiful tree to that mix, so she reached out to the Tree Officer at Barnet Council, who was just as excited about her request…
A rare tree
Our tree sponsors can request tree species in their application – and although the final decision is down to the Tree Officers, they do try to honour the request as much as they can. Chani’s request was the beautiful Handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata), native to South China but happy in our climate.
We asked Chani why she chose this particular species, “I wanted a gift that I could share with my family and the local community, and will be enjoyed for many years to come. This tree starts blossoming after about 15 years, so it will be a long time before we see these amazing flowers. But we are planting for future generations.”
The Tree Officers were just as thrilled as Chani when they informed her they had managed to source this rare tree as a 5-7 year old instant impact tree.
A meaningful message
Barnet park tree sponsors can request plaques for their trees. Chani is a musician, and this quote from Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav really resonated with her: “Each plant has its own song that it sings.” When walking through this beautiful park, it’s easy to understand Rabbi Nachman’s meaning.
A growing community of tree sponsors
Chani is now part of a growing community of residents across the country who want to make an impact where they live by sponsoring a tree.
If you’re interested to know if we work in your area – click here to find out more.
And we’ll leave you with Chani’s advice for those considering sponsoring a tree;
“It’s good for the community, and good for your own soul.”
