Celebrate and Commemorate
Celebrate a special occasion or remember a loved one with a dedication.
The Wildlife Trust BCN Celebration Tree
We want to fill our tree full of leaves dedicated to special people with the shared desire of protecting the wildlife and wild areas of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire.
A leaf on our tree is a wonderful way to create a long-lasting memory of a special event or honour an important person in your life, while also supporting nature across our three counties.
From £150, an oak leaf engraved with wording of your choice is attached to our tree for a fixed number of years. At the end of the period, the leaf can be sent back to you, you can choose to have it placed in our supporter’s chest for safekeeping, or, for a further small donation, it can remain on the tree for longer. At any time, you can request for your leaf to be returned to you.
The leaves
Brass oak leaf (gold) – for a donation of £350, your oak leaf will stay on our Celebration Tree for 10 years (upgrade to £500 and the leaf will stay on the tree permanently)
Stainless steel oak leaf (silver) – for a donation of £250 your oak leaf will stay on the tree for 5 years
Copper oak leaf (bronze) – for a donation of £150 your oak leaf will stay on the tree for 3 years
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit the tree to see my leaf?
The commemorative leaves will be placed on the celebration tree, which is based at the headquarters of the Wildlife Trust BCN in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire.
You are welcome to come and visit the tree, please contact the In Memory team by emailing inmemory@wildlifebcn.org to arrange a visit.
How long will my order take?
We will notify you once your leaf is on the tree, but please allow 30 working days from receipt of your order.
What size are the leaves?
The leaves measure 60mm wide x 1mm thick and there is room for up to 4 lines of text (limited character space per line). The wording is a 3mm engraving font similar to Arial.
Can I gift a leaf to someone?
Yes, you can dedicate a leaf as a gift. We can provide a certificate and a photo of the leaf on the celebration tree, if it is a gift for someone. Please indicate in the order form if it is a gift.
Can I have my leaf?
At any time, you can request for your leaf to be returned to you to treasure in your home or garden, or you can request for your leaf to stay on the tree longer for a further small donation.
What happens to my leaf?
If you have paid for a set amount of time for your leaf to be on the tree, our team will contact you 2 months before it is due to run out to see if you would like to renew it on an annual basis or permanently. You can request to have it returned to you after this time or we can also keep your leaf safe at our headquarters.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about the Celebration tree, please contact the In Memory team by email inmemory@wildlifebcn.org
How to order
Post
If you would like to order a leaf by post, please fill in the order form below and send to the In Memory team, The Wildlife Trust BCN, FREEPOST RITKE-REZU-YRLZ, The Manor House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, Cambridge CB23 6BR (you do not need to use a stamp).
Email
To order, please contact the In Memory team by email inmemory@wildlifebcn.org
Other dedications
Memorial Plaque
There are a number of dedicated spaces across our nature reserves, where ‘in memoriam’ or dedication donations can be publicly recognised.
The single 90mm x 50mm stainless steel plaque can be engraved with up to 20 words and will be positioned on a wooden memory post (with other plaques) where it is easily accessible for viewing. The cost of the plaque, which include engraving, installation and a donation to the Wildlife Trust BCN, is £150.
If you would like to order a memorial plaque, or you have any questions, please contact the In Memory team by email inmemory@wildlifebcn.org
Memorial Benches
We no longer offer memorial benches because there are very few locations where they are appropriate. Our most popular reserves tend to have plenty of seating already, while others, sadly, are subject to antisocial behaviour. And we have had instances of benches being vandalised. We think that memory posts are more in keeping with the natural feel of our reserves, and they are easier for our hard-working teams to install and maintain.
Scattering of Ashes
Many of our nature reserves are areas of special scientific interest (SSSIs), we do not allow the scattering of ashes at any of our reserves, as ashes can alter soil chemistry and have a detrimental effect on rare and vulnerable habitats.
Planting of Trees
We do not offer the planting of memorial trees at any of our reserves. Many of our reserves are not appropriate for tree planting nor are we currently undertaking any large-scale tree planting.
