As many readers will already know, Ems Valley Memorial Arboretum is a charitable trust which was set up in 2022 to create a memorial arboretum at Hampshire Farm Meadows in Emsworth. Its development and maintenance are enabled through charitable donations from the local community and the work of volunteers. The arboretum aims to celebrate the life of loved ones by planting up to 250 trees over the next few years to establish a place of remembrance. Commemorative plaques will provide a tangible means of memorialising people with a link to Emsworth, Westbourne or the local area. The In Memoriam Books, to be located in Emsworth Museum, the Library and Westbourne Parish Church, will be completed and put in place shortly.
After the loss of Brendan Gibb-Gray last year who was the founder of the EVMA, it is with great sadness we report that trustee Richard Hitchcock died on 19th August 2024 in hospital. He worked hard together with Brendan and other trustees on ensuring the EVMA was a shared project between Westbourne and Emsworth to benefit the wider community. Richard’s committed involvement in so many local community groups has contributed significantly to the early and continuing success of the Arboretum. His knowledge, balanced approach, prompt response and capacity for work continued even when he had to self-isolate. He attended trustee meetings remotely and would be seen on the periphery of the Meadows during planting and work party sessions. We extend our sympathy to his family and the many others, like us, who will seriously miss his quietly effective and valuable contribution. His and Brendan’s work with the initiating of EVMA will be a lasting legacy.
A total of 122 trees have so far been planted - 40 different species including 9 different species of oak. They are mapped on our website evma.org.uk with a tree locator so, when visiting, any specific tree may be identified using a suitable phone. Plans are also in hand to have labels fixed to the tree guards for additional identification. There is a new Education section on the website with useful links which will be updated as plans are developed. Donations made in memory of Brendan have been ring-fenced to create an annual educational award and it is still possible to contribute to this.