Local schoolchildren thanked for planting 21st cherry tree in the Shropshire Memorial Orchard to mark the Holocaust and other genocides
Children planting the tree
Shropshire Council and Whitchurch Town Council have thanked children from Whitchurch Juniors for planting what is now the 21st cherry tree in the memorial orchard being grown across Shropshire.
The orchard commemorates the Holocaust and other genocides, and is added to each year with the help of local primary schools and faith leaders.
A full school assembly was held with the schoolchildren, involving members of Shrewsbury Interfaith Forum, South Shropshire Interfaith Forum, local vicars, Shropshire Council representatives, and the Mayor of Whitchurch Town Council.
Children read their own poetry, listened to faith leaders sharing reflections and perspectives with them around the HMD theme of “Bridging generations”, and joined in prayers and candle lighting to mark the occasion.
The tree was donated by Whitchurch Town Council, for whom the Mayor, Councillor Mrs Rose Hall, addressed the assembly before the tree was then planted outside by several of the children.
Councillor Andy Hall, portfolio holder for children and education, and local Shropshire Council councillor, said:
“I was delighted to be able to take part in this truly wonderful event, where Shropshire Council and partners were able to take this very timely opportunity to show joint commitment against racism and religious hatred, and work with our children and young people. Our aim is to help them grow up with greater awareness and understanding about the Holocaust and other genocides, and why these must not happen again. The children shared their key school values of compassion, kindness and courage, all of which they exemplified in their time with us. I was heartened by what I saw and heard, and I have every confidence that they will grow up remembering this Day, and continuing to demonstrate these values.”
Councillor Mrs Rose Hall, Mayor of Whitchurch Town Council, said:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the event at Whitchurch Junior School and how our young people engaged with it, and I was honoured and humbled to have taken part. It is important that we learn the lessons of the past to meet the challenges of the ever-changing world we live in today – and this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day ‘Bridging Generations’ theme did just that. Not only does the donation by ourselves of the tree add to our environmental commitments, but it is also a symbol acting as a reminder of times which should never be repeated and an opportunity to reflect and remember those who have suffered unjustly at the hands of others.”
For the interfaith forums, Reverend Ken Chippindale of the Shrewsbury Interfaith Forum said:
“We know that the HMD event will bear fruit in years to come in the lives of the children. It was a pleasure to spend time with all the children, including those who planted the tree. We all agreed that they are a real credit to their school and to their families. As we reflect together on what has been achieved in the last ten years in planting these trees, we also agree how special the Whitchurch tree will be in helping the orchard to continue to grow and flourish across Shropshire”.
The children are also working towards making an artwork flame, linked to the theme. On the day, visitors were able to see that each child in school had created a handprint which was then mounted into the flame design. The flames are filled with names of family members.
Partners involved in planting the HMD tree
In follow up, Councillor Andy Hall, the Mayor of Whitchurch Town Council, Councillor Mrs Rose Hall, and representatives of world faiths, will add to the artwork. In this way, there will then be a collective piece that brings the theme to life, like the tree, and provides a fitting way for everyone in Shropshire to commemorate the planting of the 21st tree. Pictures will be shared with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
About Holocaust Memorial Day
Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) takes place on 27 January each year and is a time to remember the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. It marks the Holocaust and other atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis, including against the six million Jews who were murdered, and atrocities against people with disabilities, Sinti and Roma communities, people who were black or Slavic eg from Poland, and people who were gay.
More about the trees
In Shropshire, the approach that we have been taking for the last ten years in Shropshire is to work with primary schools in ways that will be age appropriate and memorable for them, through planting cherry trees across our very large and rural county. We involve faith leaders, through the Shrewsbury Interfaith Forum and South Shropshire Interfaith Forum, and local Shropshire Council councillors, as community leaders. We identify a different primary school each year, so the orchard can grow in rural villages and market towns throughout Shropshire.
As well as sourcing the trees through kind support from our arboriculturist team here, John Blessington from the team helps with practicalities including guidance on looking after the trees as they grow alongside the children of the schools involved. They are Black Oliver flowering cherries, a variety native to the West Midlands. This was chosen to link in with the importance of fruiting trees in Judaism, Islam and Christianity, and to illustrate our wish to show welcome for different faiths within our local area.
