Tree planting to contribute towards commemoration of pandemic

University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust has pledged to plant 72 trees in a year in honour of all the patients and colleagues who lost their lives to Covid-19 and to celebrate all those they were able to get home safe and well to their loved ones.

The virtual forest is part of the West Midland Combined Authority’s (WMCA’s) long-term commitment to the environment, #WM2041, the regional plan to be carbon neutral by 2041.

Since July 2020, trees have been planted across the Trust’s four hospital sites, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Heartlands Hospital, Good Hope Hospital and Solihull Hospital, with plans to plant all 72 trees by July 2021.

Speaking at the planting of the silver birch tree on Wednesday 10 March, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “This year especially has reminded us all how lucky we are to have you – the people who make the NHS the brilliant service that it is.

“The trees are a lovely way to mark such a significant year and to remember those we’ve lost to Covid-19.

“I’m amongst those having sadly lost my mum at this hospital a month ago, and as a former worker at Heartlands, I know she would approve of the location as well as the choice of a silver birch.”

The Trust has begun reaching out to members of their local communities, relatives of staff members who died to Covid-19, and staff working at the Trust to plant the trees, which will carry on throughout the year.