Unveiling of Ashgate Hospice Tree of Life

Guests at the launch included Councillor Lee Hartshorne, Chair of North East Derbyshire District Council, and Councillor Barry Dyke, Mayor of Chesterfield, alongside hospice staff, supporters, volunteers and members of the local community.

The Tree of Life is designed by Mark Reed Sculpture. It offers a “peaceful space for remembrance and reflection”, says Ashgate Hospice, which looks forward to welcoming people into the gardens in a warm and inclusive way.

The sculpture is fully funded through restricted government funding via Hospice UK. No patient care funds are being used, and every future donation will go towards care for local people. The 1,000 leaves will be engraved as a tribute to and in memory of someone special.

Graysons Solicitors is sponsoring the initiative in its inaugural year as part of its long-standing partnership with Ashgate Hospice, developed over many years through fundraising, event sponsorship and hands-on community involvement.

Having recently marked its 100th anniversary, Graysons has spent a century supporting families through many of life’s most important moments, helping to protect what matters and ensuring that legacies are preserved. It works closely with the hospice to provide practical legal support to patients and families through advice session including Free Wills initiatives that have raised thousands of pounds for the charity.

Peter Clark, managing partner at Graysons, said: “The Tree of Life is a significant addition to the hospice, and it was clear on Sunday how much it means to the people who attended.

“We are particularly proud to support the Tree of Life in its inaugural year, which represents not only a new development for the hospice that will help raise awareness, but is a continuation of the partnership we have built together.