The long-lasting joy of a “giving tree” installed in 2014 at a Wester Ross botanic garden have been revealed.
The galvanised metal Giving Tree, which stands at the National Trust for Scotland’s Inverewe Garden, raised over £150,000 to help restore a vital shelterbelt of trees.
The project was the idea of head gardener Kevin Ball and people bought a leaf to be engraved with a special message and display on the sculpture.
Kirsten Finnie, from Dundee, lost her mother Alison to leukaemia when she was five years old.
Her grandparents made a donation to the project and placed a leaf in memory of their daughter.
The 27-year-old went on the “special” journey to see the leaf earlier this year.
Mrs Finnie said: “When the National Trust for Scotland put out an appeal for funding for the tree of remembrance, my grandparents chose to donate a leaf in memory of their daughter – my mother Alison.
“Shortly before her passing from leukaemia, my mum planted a cherry blossom tree with help from myself, my sister Lauren and my dad.
“Then the appeal came out years later from Inverewe, my grandparents thought it would be a fitting tribute to my mum, as well as supporting Scotland and all that it has to offer.”
A National Trust Scotland spokeswoman added: “We realise what a special visit this was for Kirsten, and we were so pleased she was able to see the leaf dedicated to the memory of her mum.
“Kirsten’s family’s kind donation was so important to us, giving us much-needed support to ensure the survival and continued protection of Inverewe’s precious shelterbelt.”
