A community tree has been installed at north Cumbria’s Watchtree Nature Reserve as a thank you for the donations that allowed it to resurface its trail network.
The £200,000 project was funded by individuals, businesses and grant giving organisations.
The tree, designed by First Engineering, is an intricate art installation made of stainless steel and mounted on a wooden backdrop by Watchtree staff and volunteers.
The piece displays leaves with names of supporters who contributed to the installation of the paths around the reserve,.
Examples of contributions detailed on the leaves include Sellafield Community Choices, a funding competition where Watchtree received £50,000, as well as personal contributions and individual fundraisers such as Alan Gillespie, who completed the C2C route on a tandem cycle, raising over £2,000.
An especially poignant leaf results from donations made in memory of Mikey Wolfe, a regular cycle user at Watchtree, who died aged just 10.
Watchtree intends to install a second tree to recognise other significant contributors to the reserve’s success over the years. There will also be the opportunity for people to make donations to the reserve in exchange for a leaf on the tree.
Watchtree general manager Ryan Dobson said: “We hope the leaves will make a great alternative gift for loved ones, or an opportunity for people to contribute to the reserve in memory of family or friends.
“The tree itself is a stunning piece of artwork, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed to its installation – be it the design, the construction or those who donated to the reserve.
