Exclusive: Huge woodland to be created at National Memorial Arboretum for those lost to Covid
The Arboretum are working with the National Forest and Cabinet Office
We can exclusively reveal, a permanent memorial's being planned at the National Memorial Arboretum to remember those lost to Covid-19.
It's in the early stages but we can reveal the Arobretum are working with the Cabinet Office and National Forest to build a woodland where people can go to reflect or remember.
The Arboretum have been given an extra 10 hectares of land to expand and create it.
On the land, there's also a lake, with sculptures and art among the ideas being put forward.
Philippa Rawlinson is the Managing Director at the National Memorial Arboretum:
"As the nation's year round place to remember, we think it would only be fitting that we were the home to a Covid memorial.
"We are working with the National Forest Company and like us they had people inquiring in the early days on how they could remember loved ones who'd lost their lives.
"So, we've been working together to create a new permanent memorial, a new woodland that heals the old quarry land as we heal ourselves and regenerate.
"We think it could be quite a beautiful and moving thing, as we create something special, out of what has been such a tough time for so many."
Later today, the nation will also pause in remembrance of those who have died during the coronavirus pandemic, one year after the UK was first plunged into lockdown.
A national day of reflection, organised by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie, is taking place.
A minute's silence will be held at 12pm followed by a bell toll, and people are being encouraged to stand on their doorsteps at 8pm with phones, candles and torches to signify a "beacon of remembrance''.
The Prime Minister has said he will observe the minute's silence privately at noon while it will also be held in the Houses of Parliament.
According to the latest available data from the Office for National Statistics, there have been 618,676 deaths from all causes registered in England and Wales between March 21 2020 and the week ending March 5 2021.
The figures also show that, across the UK, 147,681 deaths have now occurred where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
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