Ruth Martin, chair of the Aldersbrook Horticultural Society, reports on a recent tree-planting ceremony at Aldersbrook Medical Centre to commemorate all those who have lost their lives to Covid
On the last Saturday in November, Aldersbrook Horticultural Society were very proud to take part in a tree-planting ceremony at Aldersbrook Medical Centre.
A crab apple tree and two ‘discovery’ eating apples were planted in the front garden of the surgery on Aldersbrook Road. Dr Mehta, the senior GP at the practice, spoke movingly about his personal experience of Covid and was helped to plant the central tree by his young son and daughter, with staff from the surgery, patients and members of Aldersbrook Horticultural Society planting the remainder.
A commemorative plaque was placed next to the trees to. The plaque reads:
To commemorate those who have died during the COVID pandemic and to thank all NHS and other key workers.
A golden privet hedge was planted below the lime trees in the garden, and as it grows, it will not only look very pretty but will also provide the garden with shelter. The heavy rain from Storm Arwen didn’t deter enthusiasm and made the refreshments of cake and tea all the more welcome for the good crowd that attended the ceremony.
Aldersbrook Horticultural Society has been working with Aldersbrook Medical Centre for several months. The brick planter next to the bus stop has been transformed from a giant rubbish bin into an attractive flower bed planted with shrubs and colourful perennials. We have been working with the Patient Participation Group to develop a gardening club to support patients at the practice. There are monthly working parties and in October, a raised bed was planted with wallflowers and colourful spring bulbs donated by Redbridge Council. Plans in the future involve more planting and ongoing work to keep the front garden looking its best.
Aldersbrook Horticultural Society continues to go from strength to strength and meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm at Aldersbrook Bowls Club. Our meetings are open to members (£35 a year) and to non-members (£5 per meeting).
We have a variety of local and national speakers. Nick Bailey from Gardeners’ World wowed us in September with a talk on ‘365 days of colour’, committee members in October talked about the beginning of the gardening year and in November, Ken Clarke from Forest Gate shared his knowledge and love of succulents and cacti, leaving us all more confident about caring for our plants rather than killing them with love.
This year’s programme of events will begin on 11 January with a presentation by Simone Rauxlah on terra preta soils.
For more information on the Aldersbrook Horticultural Society, visit wnstd.com/ahs
