Nestled amongst a landscaped wooded glade within the Arboretum, adjacent to the Royal British Legion Poppy Field this magical tree is a Remembrance space for all.
Cast in bronze, the Tree of Cherished Memories is steeped in symbolism. Immortalising one of the Arboretum’s very own Hawthorn trees, the design represents a peaceful connection between humanity and nature. It’s interwoven trunk and visible roots emanate strength and determination, and the globe-like crown of the tree symbolises connection and togetherness.
On the ground, a growing seed-pod represents youth and new life. Glinting bronze leaves and figurative dancers are entwined within the branches and will continue to grow as personal dedications are added.
The sculptor, Jill Berelowitz, one of the Nation's most innovative and prominent sculptors, makes ambitious, large scale works that articulate her personal experiences. Infused with a positive and often spiritual feel, many of her works are deeply personal and often incorporate symbols of a talismanic importance such as the tree of life, circles and spherical forms. Many others evoke the human figure, formed with qualities of elegance and lyrical movement and often elongated and abstracted in the manner of the traditional tribal sculpture of her homeland of South Africa.
Beautiful leaf elements of the sculpture can be individually commissioned as a dedication to a loved one, or to mark special occasions for celebration and Remembrance.
Dedications can be commissioned for a period of five (£575) or ten (£1,000) years.
Engraving on tributes is limited to a maximum of three lines, of up to 17 characters per line (including any spaces, symbols, punctuation or special characters). Please note that all dedications will be cast in uppercase font.
Costs include the casting of the dedication, installation on the sculpture and a donation towards the care of the Arboretum for the duration of your commission.
Dedicators should allow a minimum of 12 weeks before their dedication is added to the Tree of Cherished Memories. Please note this timing is an approximation, our team will be in contact once the dedication is in place.
Dedications can be commissioned for a period of five (£575) or ten (£1,000) years.
Costs include the casting of the dedication, installation on the sculpture and a donation towards the care of the Arboretum for the duration of the commission.
After your initial dedication period is over, you will be offered the opportunity to renew your dedication for a further period of five or ten years.
Alternatively, we are able to work with you to arrange collection of your leaf dedication.
Tribute text is limited to a maximum of three lines, of up to 17 characters per line (including, spaces, symbols, punctuation and special characters).
For example, the dedication below features;
12 characters - line 1, 10 characters - line 2, 11 characters - line 3:
IN MEMORY OF
JOHN SMITH
1947 - 2026
Dedicators should allow a minimum of 12 weeks before their dedication is added to the Tree of Cherished Memories.
Please note this timing is an approximation, the Arboretum team will contact you once the tribute is in place.
The sculpture and its dedications are cast from bronze.
The tributes have been designed to weather naturally throughout the dedication period.
The sculpture, including its surrounding areas, will be sensitively maintained in line with the Arboretum’s regular grounds maintenance schedule.
The individual tributes will be searchable using information kiosks that are accessible in the Welcome Area of the Remembrance Centre.
You will also receive an email indicating the location of your dedication once it has been added to the sculpture.
The Arboretum team can remove a dedication at any point within your dedication period; however, we would not be able to re-add this dedication to the tree, nor would a refund be provided.
Alternatively, we are able to work with you to arrange collection of your leaf dedication.
Upon submission of your inscription you will have 24 hours to report any changes to your inscription. After this your inscription will be unable to be changed.
Please take care to check your dedication text before submission, as all tributes will be cast exactly as specified, in uppercase lettering.
If your dedication message does not exceed a character count of three lines of 17 characters (including any spaces, symbols, punctuation or special characters) you can include as many names as you wish on your dedication.
All dedications are cast in uppercase letters e.g I REMEMBER
The Tree of Cherished Memories is located adjacent to the Royal British Legion Poppy Field, which is accessible by a network of pathways from the Remembrance Centre.
In-line with our grounds maintenance policies, individual tokens of Remembrance, including fresh, untied flowers (removed from any plastic wrapping), wreaths, or poppy tributes may be laid at the base of the Tree of Cherished Memories. Items that are affixed to the sculpture will be removed and placed at the sculptures base or removed entirely.
All areas of the Arboretum are inspected on a regular basis, and tributes will be removed if they are visually weathered, in danger of being moved to another area of the site by inclement weather or are detrimental to the visitor experience. All items removed will be disposed of respectfully in a manner befitting the specific type of tribute.
The Arboretum team will not be able to contact individual dedication holders to advise of the removal of items.
