Families' forest of yellow ribbons marks start of maintenance project
Supporters met at the much-loved Downley Memorial Woodland on Saturday November 21st to tie bright yellow ribbons around their own special trees.
The woodland, on an attractive hillside at Downley, High Wycombe, is in need of thinning and maintenance, and IRHH invited everyone who had planted or dedicated a tree to identify it before the work begins.
Wycombe District Council rangers, who will carry out the maintenance over the winter, have pledged to do all they can to respect the trees and retain the integrity of the woodland.
Partnership Fundraiser Linda Petrons , who organised the event, said: 'The woodland at Plomer Hill is a beautiful spot and hundreds of trees were planted there in memory of loved ones.
'We felt it was important to give everyone the chance to identify trees to which they have a particular attachment. It cannot be guaranteed that every tree marked will be retained but the council has promised to do all it can, and handle the project sensitively.'
Wycombe District Council ranger Julie Hoption was at the woodland last month to meet around 30 supporters who attended. Linda was joined by IRHH Director of Fundraising and Marketing Gillian Barnett, and family support team manager Sue Grace , to greet the families at St James the Great Church in Downley before going to the wood. Linda said: 'The rangers will now mark all the trees our supporters have identified with yellow ribbons before they start work in the woodland.'
7th December 2009
