THE Clyde Coast and Garnock Valley Crematorium is launching a new and thoughtful initiative that will see the facility plant a tree on behalf of every family and every funeral service they undertake this year.

The scheme will see the them plant in excess of 800 native and rare species trees on behalf of families for the remainder of this year, working in partnership with EADHA, the Lochwinnoch-based social enterprise in woodland creation and sustainability.

The cost of the trees, the planting, and the on-going management and care will be covered by the crematorium at no extra cost to families.

A note of where the trees have been planted for each given month will be taken - allowing families to know the overall area in which the living memorial to their loved one has been placed, and an audited certificate confirming the planting will also be provided for families.

Jeremy Hamilton from the Clyde and Garnock Valley Crematorium said: “We think that this is a gentle idea and one that is also meaningful in terms of timing given the unprecedented situation

we are facing through COVID-19.

“We were all set to launch the tree for every family and every service in March, then the coronavirus situation arose, and we decided to pause what we were doing. But the time now feels right to pick things back up.

“We feel that it’s a simple idea but one with a lot of meaning – it’s about legacy and connecting the local people, families and communities that we help with the landscape that we all share.

“Hopefully it will allow people to take some comfort from knowing that a living memorial has been planted on behalf of their loved one, and that in time the tree will grow and develop and help to create a new landscape for the benefit of nature and future generations.”

Peter Livingstone, founder of EADHA Enterprises added: “We believe that planting a tree is a noble gesture in itself and a highly fitting memorial to a life. We also know that planting a tree as part of a vision to restore a healthy and native forest ecosystem represents a wider act that will ultimately help to enhance and heal our local environment too.”