St. Joseph’s Hospice is offering local families a small piece of its 12 acre woodland to remember their loved ones.

The hospice has made all its trees available for adoption and every family which chooses to adopt a tree will receive a wooden heart made of solid oak to attach to the tree. Families can also include a personalised message on their heart to celebrate the life being remembered.

Brian and Anne Hayes from Litherland are the very first to adopt a tree. The siblings explored the grounds looking for a tree to adopt in memory of their mum, Veronica, who died at the hospice in May 2019, and their father Brian, who passed away just last year.

Brian said: “We have found a beautiful tree right in the heart of the woodland which has two distinct halves, one for each of our parents, but also joined together at the trunk so it’s just perfect. We now have somewhere special to go where we can remember them and feel close to them both.

“It is such a lovely idea and a wonderful way to remember them and support the hospice too as they looked after our mum with so much dignity, compassion and care.”

Families can adopt a tree for a minimum donation of £250 and the adoption will last for at least five years. The wooden hearts are completely unique as they have been specially designed for the hospice. They are also entirely natural and in keeping with the woodland environment.

Maxine Armstrong, head of fundraising and lottery at St. Joseph’s Hospice, said: “Adopt a Tree is a wonderful way of providing families with their own small part of the hospice grounds where they can spend time in the peaceful woodland and enjoy all their precious memories.

“Our woodland gardens are always open and are more accessible than ever with our new woodland walkway. We welcome families and dog walkers to use and enjoy the woodland whenever they want.

“If you have someone you’d like to remember then please feel free to explore the grounds at your leisure and find a tree that is right for you. Then, just pop in and visit the fundraising team in the coach house to finalise the adoption details. All the donations raised through Adopt a Tree go directly to providing nursing care for our patients and support for their families.”

If you would like to adopt a tree, call the hospice’s fundraising team on 0151 932 6044 or email fundraising@stjhospice.org.uk.