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Forest To Be Grown In Honour Of Late Captain Sir Tom Moore

Forest To Be Grown In Honour Of Late Captain Sir Tom Moore

A social media post by the Woodland Trust has invited the public to plant trees in honour of the NHS fundraiser and late World War II vet.

Simon Catling

Simon Catling

The family of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore have suggested a fitting tribute to the NHS fundraising centurion, by asking people to plant trees in his name.

The World War Two veteran passed away at the beginning of February, months after raising around £33 million for the National Health Service as it struggled through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since then, there has been widespread discussion about how best to honour the late former Army officer, but his family's idea may be the most thoughtful of the lot.

PA

In a post on Facebook made by UK woodland conservation charity The Woodland Trust, they wrote: "The family of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore have extended an invitation to grow a legacy forest in his honour, uniting people in the UK and worldwide with a vision to create a brighter, greener future."

The post went on to say: "In tribute to his life and his influence, Sir Tom's daughter Lucy Teixeira and her family are inviting people to come together to plant trees and grow a living legacy forest in his name.

"Trees for Tom is a collaboration between ourselves and TreeSisters: women seeding change, and will allow people to plant trees both locally in the UK and in eight other countries around the world."

The Trust finished by saying: "What a fitting way to celebrate the life of someone as inspirational as Captain Sir Tom Moore, by creating woods and planting trees as a lasting legacy.

Captain Sir Tom Moore.
PA

"We are hoping to raise enough money to fulfil the family's wishes of planting a memorial woodland in Yorkshire in his memory."

The suggested memorial has been responded to enthusiastically on Facebook, with one person writing: "Great, and worthwhile legacy".

Another added: "Fantastic tribute and legacy to an inspiring man".

A third referenced the accompanying photo of Moore, standing in his greenhouse surrounded by tall plants, and said: "What a fabulous picture of Sir Tom, a great idea to plant trees to celebrate his life and his love of growing from seeds. RIP Sir Tom."

Facebook/The Woodland Trust

Over 240,000 people have signed a petition calling for Moore to receive a state funeral - a memorial usually bestowed only to the monarch and a very elite group of others, including the likes of Sir Isaac Newton and Winston Churchill.

Other suggestions have included a statue in honour of his achievements, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock telling LBC: "I do think that we should find a way, at the right time, to honour the contribution that he made to the NHS and he was an inspiration to so many people."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also gone on record as saying that Moore should be publicly honoured. He said at a press conference: "On the issue of a statue, a public memorial of some kind... I'm absolutely, of course, open to that.

"We will be working with his family to see what they feel is most appropriate and taking that forward."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News