The Friends were delighted to take part in a joint celebration with the Samaritans and the Park Management Team on Saturday 1st April. The event was to celebrate the planting of three silver birch trees and the installation of two new ‘reflection’ benches at the recently created Bulbs for Lives field. It was also to thank everyone who planted the bulbs last October, which have now successfully burst through the grass to create a carpet of colour – first the purple and white crocuses and now the yellow daffodils.
You may recall that last October a large group of volunteers planted ‘bulbs for lives’ – 6221 crocuses and 6221 daffodils which represent the number of people who very sadly took their own lives in 2021.
It’s great to see that the bulbs have flowered successfully, and will reappear each year. The two specially designed benches have been carefully positioned, flanked by three new silver birch trees, next to the spread of flowers, to allow people to sit, talk and reflect.
Refreshments and delicious homemade cakes were provided by the Samaritans, and the Friends organised an ‘Easter egg’ hunt for the children in the Human Nature Garden. The ‘Easter eggs’ were actually pebbles, cleverly painted by the Samaritans, which the children could exchange for a seasonal chocolate, and they were able to take their special pebble home with them. It was very popular and the children had great fun.