Memorial woodland in Leeds set to be created

Charity Life for a Life Memorial Forests are set to create the memorial woodland of up to 600 trees on Leeds-City Council owned land off Leeds Bradford Road in the Bramley and Stanningley ward.

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The charity offers the chance to have a tree planted in memory of a loved one for a donation of at least £595, with further donations required for a plaque and the interring of ashes at the base of a tree.

The land is set to be transformed into a publicly accessible woodland site with the option of benches and picnic tables. The established woodland would be returned to Leeds City Council after the end of a 30-year lease.

Leeds City Council deputy leader Coun Lucinda Yeadon, said: “It is something that would benefit us in the long-term as well as giving a way for people to remember their loved ones.”

Conservative group leader Coun Andrew Carter, said: “I think it’s a splendid idea particularly taken with the site.

“It’s in the West Leeds Country Park on a flood plain so it means planting trees in an area where we need to plant a lot more trees. I think it’s very good indeed.”

Life for a Life Memorial Forests was established 18 years ago and has 48 planting sites across the UK.

Founder and chief executive Norman Armstrong-Kersh, said: “We are absolutely delighted. We have been negotiating for a very long time for this to happen for the benefit of people in Leeds and district.”

Mr Armstrong-Kersh said money raised would go to local charities and improvement works at the site.