Blossoms to symbolise kindness of Covid volunteers

Blossom trees will be planted to celebrate the kindness of volunteers who helped others during the coronavirus pandemic.

South Cambridgeshire District Council has funded 58 wild cherry trees with commemorative plaques, to be planted in its towns and parishes.

The authority said the trees would "grow as symbols of the resilience, kindness and hope for generations to come".

It said it had distributed them ahead of the nationwide Covid-19 Day of Reflection on Sunday, when planting ceremonies will take place.

The council said the two-metre (6.5ft) tall trees could grow to 12 metres (39ft) at maturity after about 50 years.

It said that more than 100 voluntary groups had been established in South Cambridgeshire during the pandemic, made up of more than 4,000 volunteers.

They helped with everything from carrying shopping, collecting prescriptions, walking dogs and alleviating social isolation, the council said.

Lead cabinet member for communities, councillor Henry Batchelor, said: "The community response to the Covid-19 pandemic in South Cambridgeshire was astonishing.

"We saw an incredible support network established – with thousands of volunteers caring for those in need," he said.

"We hope this simple act of providing beautiful blossom trees will stand as a poignant reminder of how the community supported each other – as well as providing a space for reflection and to remember those we lost."

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